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I. 

























DEER JANE” 


a 


BY 

ISABEL CECILIA WILLIAMS 


$ 


NEW YORK 

P. J. KENEDY & SONS 
44 Barclay Street 




Copyrighted, 1911 , 

By P. J. KENEDY & SONS. 


i 



•©CI,Ai!9a3G9 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. A Bolt from the Blub 5 

II. The Broken Slate 26 

III. Over the Tea-table 47 

IV. Pictures in the Fire 75 

Y. Jane’s Christmas Present 89 

VI. “ Auf Wiedersehen ” 108 

VII. Roger is Coming 121 

VIII. “Deer Jane” 140 

















“DEER JANE.” 


CHAPTER I. 

A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 

Jane Preston, opening the door of 
her small flat and entering quickly, 
found herself confronted by three 
pairs of reproachful eyes, brown, blue, 
and gray respectively. The expres- 
sion of the three faces was curious to 
see. Roger’s wore a look of deepest 
concern and anxiety, Dickie’s was a 
funny mixture of worry and boyish 
impatience, while Elaine’s pretty 
countenance was disfigured by a 
frown of petulant anger. The ex- 
pression of the voices as each spoke 

in turn, exactly matched the faces. 

5 


6 


DEEE JANE.’ 


“ Why, Jane, what could have 
happened to keep you so late! We 
were terribly anxious about you,” said 
Roger. 

“ Yes, indeed. Sis, we’ve been in a 
nice state on your account. Roger’s 
been walking up and down like a 
caged wild animal and I was just 
going to put on my hat and go out 
to telephone to all the hospitals and 
police stations in town.” 

“And of course,” this from Elaine 
in a tone of injured dignity. “ Of 
course, you couldn’t possibly remem- 
ber that Roger had promised to take 
us all to the theater to-night and 
you’d told him to be sure and come 
over for supper so’s he’d be here 
in time. Well, Roger’s here early 
enough, Dickie and I are here, and 
you and the supper walk in just 
about the time we should be in our 
seats watching the curtain go up.” 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 7 

Jane’s face was drawn with fatigue 
and very white, but she laid aside the 
parcels she was carrying and smiled 
brightly as she turned to the three 
who were watching her. 

“ You dear people, I am so very 
sorry to have kept you waiting. I 
was busy over there at the office and 
honestly I had no idea that it was so 
late. I’ll tell you all about it by and 
by, but don’t ask any questions now. 
Never mind about the theater, Elaine, 
we can go to-morrow night just as 
well. You blessed child, your face 
will be a wrinkled old woman’s long 
before you are my age if you will 
persist in frowning like that cross 
little bulldog in the flat upstairs. 
That’s better, baby. You should 
never do anything but smile, for you 
are really almost pretty when you 
smile,” and Jane pulled her little 
sister’s ear playfully, patted Dickie 


8 


“ DEER JANE.' 


on the shoulder, and threw a friendly 
smile to the man whose brown eyes 
had not yet lost their expression of 
worry. 

“ But, dearie me, dearie me, let’s not 
stand here all night grinning like 
monkeys. All of you come and help 
with the supper so as to hurry it 
along, for I am simply starving. 
Elaine, you and Roger may lay the 
table and attend to affairs in the 
dining-room while Richard and I 
cook a perfectly beautiful steak I 
bought on my way home.” 

“Oh! I say, Jane,” expostulated 
Roger. “Isn’t that putting it a bit 
strong, you know? Kindly respect 
my artistic temperament and do not 
ask me to apply an adjective like 
beautiful to a piece of raw meat.” 

“Very well, Roger,” Jane laughed 
back at him as she marshalled her 
forces to the dining-room and kitchen. 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 9 

“If you have no more respect than 
that for my ability to select what I 
shall persist in calling a beautiful 
steak, you shall not have one scrap of 
it to eat. If you behave very prettily, 
we may give you the bone.” 

“ Lucky dog to get even a bone, I 
suppose,” returned Roger. 

Preparations for the meal pro- 
gressed amid a gale of merriment 
and badinage flung back and forth 
between the two in the dining-room 
and the two in the kitchen. It was 
an established fact that laughter fol- 
lowed in Jane Preston’s footsteps. 
Roger had once said of her : 

“ I think when Jane is going to her 
own funeral she will And some way 
of turning the mourners’ tears into 
laughter or at least, into quiet peace 
and happiness. I have yet to meet the 
pall of gloom which Jane's gentle tact 
and ready sympathy will not dispel.” 


10 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


To-night, she was the life of the 
party, but there was a something 
underlying her gayety which made 
Roger watch her with scarcely hidden 
anxiety. Something on her mind,” 
he thought. Wonder what it is ? ” 
When the steak had been pro- 
nounced a most decided success 
and four well-fed and apparently 
thoroughly contented people were 
nibbling at some freshly roasted pea- 
nuts which Roger, strange to say, 
had found in his coat pocket, Jane 
pushed away her plate and cup and 
saucer. Deliberately placing her 
elbows on the space left vacant, she 
laid one hand over the other and 
rested her chin on the back of the 
uppermost hand. Roger knew the 
gesture of old. In fact, he thought to 
himself, were there any little tricks 
and gestures of hers he did not know 
by heart and understand perfectly. 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 11 

Jane smiled a queer little smile at 
each one in turn and drew a long 
breath as though preparing for a 
plunge. 

Out with it at once, Jane ; you’ll 
feel better when you get it out of your 
system,” counseled Roger. 

Out with what, Roger ? What do 
you mean ? ” Jane looked at him 
rather nervously. 

“ Oh ! whatever it is that’s been on 
your mind and bothering you ever 
since you came in to-night.” 

Jane flushed ever so slightly. 

Well, folkses,” she began, rub- 
bing her chin on the back of her hand 
and watching curiously for the effect 
of her words on her listeners. I have 
something to tell you all and I do hope 
you will feel as happy over it as I do.” 

She may feel happy, but she 
don’t look it,” conflded Roger to his 
teacup. 


12 


“ DEEB JANE.' 


“ And this that I have to tell you is 
the reason I was so late to-night. I 
was obliged to remain at the office to 
finish up a number of small odds and 
ends before handing the keys over to 
my successor.” 

“ Your successor ! ” The exclama- 
tion fiashed from three throats simul- 
taneously. There was no doubt as to 
the effect of her words thus far. 

“ Yes, my successor,” went on Jane 
quietly. “ When I left the factory to- 
night, I left it never to return, at least, 
in the capacity of employee.” 

“ But I say. Sis, what are you going to 
do? What are we all going to do if 
you quit working? And how did it 
happen, did old Alford fire you ? If he 
did . . .” and Eichard’s hashing eyes 
and clenched fists spoke volumes. 

“ I do not believe Mr. Alford would 
do that,” interposed Roger gently, his 
grave eyes seeking to read Jane’s face. 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 13 

I do not see where or how he could 
find a substitute for our Jane. Go on, 
Jane, tell us about it.” 

“ You are right in one surmise, 
Roger,” and Jane laughed, a trifie un- 
steadily it must be admitted, ^^and 
wrong in the other. I left a very 
excellent substitute to take my place 
when I closed the office door to-night. 
It is a most estimable young man with 
carroty hair and a squint. He has 
brains though, so with a little careful 
training I think he may be able to do 
as well as yours truly. However, Mr. 
Alford did not ‘ fire ’ me, as Dickie 
expresses it. He has offered me an- 
other and a better position.” 

Oh ! goodie, goodie ! ” this from 
the hitherto silent but watchful small 
sister. “That’ll mean more money 
and a new dress forme, won’t it, Janey 
dear ? ” 

“ Yes, baby, it will mean ever and 


14 


DEER JANE.’ 


ever so much more money and new 
clothes and good times for us all.” 

“ Go on, Jane,” Eoger’s voice was 
stern now, and ominously quiet. What 
is the new position he has offered 
you ? ” 

“ He has asked me to be his wife, 
Eoger,” replied Jane simply ; “ and I 
have promised to become Mrs. Alford 
one month from to-day.” 

Dead silence greeted Jane’s state- 
ment. Eoger’s face slowly paled and 
his mouth set in a hard, straight line, 
Eichard and Elaine gasped in open- 
mouthed amazement. 

Jane glanced quickly from one to 
another. 

“ Well, whatails you all ; aren’t you 
pleased with my news ? ” 

“ Pleased ! ” and Eichard sprang to 
his feet and banged his chair in under 
the table. “ Look here. Sis, if this is 
a joke, I think it has gone quite far 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 15 

enough. John Alford is nearly as old 
as Jimmy Jones’s grandfather. You 
mustn’t think of marrying him, not 
for a moment. ” 

But, Dickie boy, think what it will 
mean to all of us. We can have every, 
thing we want without working for 
it any more. Mr. Alford is not very 
young, but he is good and kind. He 
has done everything for us, as you 
know, and I am sure we are all going 
to be very, very happy. Eoger, will 
not you, my best friend and old play- 
mate, help me show Richard how 
grateful we should be to Mr. Alford, 
who might choose among the loveliest 
ladies in the land, for wishing to 
honor poor little me by making me 
Mrs. Alford? Roger, please,” and Jane 
reached an imploring hand across the 
table to the man who had been her 
playmate in childhood, her best friend 
always. 


16 


“ DEEB JANE.' 


Roger rose to his feet, his face livid. 
Jane rose, too, and faced him calmly 
dignified, if thoroughly surprised and 
hurt. 

“ Jane,” and the voice was so hard 
and bitter she could not believe it 
was really Roger who was speaking. 

“ Jane, there is only one thing I can 
say and it is this. All my life, I have 
honored you, idealized you, regarded 
you as the one perfect woman on 
God’s earth. Now, I see you are like 
all the rest, worse than many of 
them, in fact. You would sell your- 
self to that heartless old cynic of an 
Alford (oh ! don’t protest, I know the 
reputation he enjoys) and all for the 
sake of his money. What will not 
money do, when it can buy even Jane 
Preston ! Jane Preston, Jane, the one 
and only perfect creature in the wide, 
wide world. What a joke, what a 
joke, and the joke is on me ! Good- 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 17 

bye, Jane Preston. As Mrs. John 
Alford, may you have all the happi- 
ness you so richly deserve.” In a 
towering passion, Roger flung out of 
the room and a moment later they 
heard the house door close with a re- 
sounding bang. 

For a space, Jane stood silent and 
immovable, her face pale as death, 
her hand pressed to her side as 
though to still some pain there. Then 
Elaine’s voice broke in, replete with 
childish anger. 

“ Now just see what you have done, 
you and your old Mr. Alford between 
you. You’ve broken Roger’s heart, so 
you have. Everybody knew he was 
just stuck on you though you never 
seemed to notice it. Why, all the 
people I know on this street speak of 
him as my sister’s beau and ask me 
when you are going to get hitched. I 
think he’s the handsomest, nicest, best 


18 “ DEER JANE.” 

man ever lived and I’m going to ask 
him to wait till I grow up. I’ll marry 
him myself one of these days, just see 
if I don’t.” 

Jane’s gentle calm never wavered 
and she looked sadly into the muti- 
nous gray eyes as she said quietly : 

“ Little sister, those remarks of the 
neighbors which you say were re- 
peated in your hearing, prove to me 
most conclusively that it is time I 
took you away from such vulgar as- 
sociations. Come, children, come into 
my sitting-room, for I must have a 
very serious talk with both my bad 
little babies. There noAV, we’ll all sit 
here in the darkness just as we have 
sat so many, many times since you 
two and big sister were left alone in 
the world to be all in all to one an- 
other. Dickie boy, answer me one 
question. Since mother and father 
went away to Heaven, has not sister 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 19 

done all she could to be mother, 
father, and big sister, all in one, to 
you two little people ? ” 

“ You bet you have. Sis, and that’s 
why we hate to have you marry an 
old man like Mr. Alford, when you 
could have had our dear, good Eoger 
for the asking.” 

“ Well, Dickie, I never intended ask- 
ing Roger to marry me, so please 
leave him out of it entirely. You can 
never know all Mr. Alford did for 
father and mother when I was a 
small girl and you two were only 
little babies. You can never know all 
he did for me when father and 
mother died. And now, he wishes to 
take care of us all and will be very, 
very good to us.” 

“ But we don’t need him to take 
care of us. You’ve done that for six 
years now and I’ll soon be grown up 
and then I’ll take care of you. I’m 


20 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


fourteen, you know, and I help a little 
even now, don’t I, Sis?” 

“ You help a great deal, dear, and I 
am sure in a few years you could sup- 
port us all very nicely. But, Dickie, 
I’m afraid Sister could not hold out 
for those few years. I am not over- 
strong, dearie, and am very, very tired. 
If anything happened to Sister, where 
would her boy and girl be then ? ” 

“You’re not really sick, are you. 
Sis ? ” and the boy’s voice was anxious. 

“No, no, dear, not really sick, but 
very tired. Besides, even if I could 
hold out until you are ready to as- 
sume the burden, I do not want either 
of my children to settle into a mere 
drudge for life. I want you both to 
be something, to do something really 
worth while. You, Dickie, must 
go to college, then, choose whatever 
career you seem best fitted for. Mr. 
Alford will see you through. Elaine 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 21 

shall go to some good boarding school 
and I think her specialty will be 
music. How would you like to have 
a piano of your very own, baby ? 

“A really, truly, shiney all over 
piano, not a cracked, dirty, all out of 
tune one like the old thing that the 
people downstairs let me practise on 
now ? ” 

Yes, dear, a really, truly piano, the 
best money can buy.” 

^^And, Janey dear, would we ride 
in his big red automobile, and have 
silk dresses, and chicken every day 
for dinner ? ” 

“We certainly would, dear, and 
above all, we would have the kindest, 
best and most generous of men to 
take care of us always. You cannot 
know him as I do, but when you do 
know him, you will love and honor 
him— as I do,” she added after a barely 
perceptible pause. 


22 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


Two hours later, when Jane had 
tucked her charges safely away for 
the night, she sat in the old rocker in 
her shabby sitting-room which was 
lighted only by the reflection of an 
electric light on the street outside. 
She gazed into the darkness, thinking 
of Roger whom she regarded as her 
best and truest friend. How could he 
hurt her so very, very cruelly? At 
the thought, hot tears sprang to her 
eyes and dropped unheeded on her 
folded hands. A little white flgure 
stole noiselessly in and stood beside 
her. 

I say. Sis.” 

Yes, Dickie.” 

Do you really and truly want to 
do this?” 

I really and truly want it, Dickie. 
I want it more than I ever wanted 
anything in my whole life.” 

“What are you crying for, then?” 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 23 

“ Am I crying, dear ? I did not 
know it.” 

A short silence, then : 

“ Dickie boy.” 

“What is it. Sis?” 

“ Can you remember when you 
were just a wee little laddie and used 
to climb up on my lap and ask me to 
rock you to sleep ? Don’t you sup- 
pose, Dickie, we could just pretend 
you were my little, little baby again 
and let me hold you as I used to ? ” 

“ I’m afraid I’m too big. Sis,” rather 
doubtfully, “ and that a good deal of 
me would be spilling off onto the 
floor. But I tell you what ! I’ll put 
my arm around you, so. You lean 
your head on my shoulder and I’ll 
hold you. That’ll be sort of turn 
about, won’t it? But why you should 
cry just because we’re all going to do 
the ‘ live happy ever after ’ stunt they 
talk about in the fairy tales, passes 


24 


DEER jane; 


me. I guess us men don’t know much 
about girls any way.” 

“ Dickie, you scamp, what are you 
talking about ? Us men, indeed ! You 
may be too big for me to rock you to 
sleep, but you’re not too big to be 
spanked. If you stand there another 
second catching cold as fast as you can. 
I’ll forget big you are and give 
you a genuine, old-fashioned spank- 
ing. Off to bed this minute, sir.” 

A sudden flash of white across the 
room and Dickie had disappeared bed- 
wards. 

Presently in a very sleepy voice : 
“I say, Sis.” 

“ Yes, Dickie.” 

“ Will he give me a red automobile, 
all my own, do you think ? ” 

“ He probably will if you are a very 
good boy.” 

Prolonged silence, and then : 

“ Si-is.” 


A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. 25 

“ Yes, dear.” 

And will he . . . send me to . . . col- 
lege ... to learn . . . to . . . be . . .” 

But what Dickie was going to learn 
to be, Jane did not find out till some 
time later. Master Richard was safe 
in the land o f dreams watching a long 
line of stern college professors march 
past him with books under their arms, 
fiaming automobile headlights in- 
stead of eyes, and rubber-tired wheels 
where their ears ought to be. 


CHAPTER II. 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 

Roger stood with his back to the 
room and beat a restless tattoo upon 
the window pane. Jane sewed quietly, 
sitting in her chair by the table and 
listening to alternate exclamations of 
annoyance and squeals of delight from 
the two children busily engaged in a 
game of Parchesi in the kitchen. 

“ Well,” said the man at the window 
curtly, not turning around and not 
ceasing for even a second that quick, 
nervous tapping. “ Why did you send 
for me, Jane? I should think you 
would never care to see me again after 
. . . after last night.” 

Jane’s face was very tired and she 
looked up sadly at the broad back 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 27 

turned so resolutely towards her, but 
her voice was steady and as sweet and 
kind as usual. 

I sent for you, Eoger, because we 
have always been such good, good 
friends that it would nearly break my 
heart to feel we had parted in anger. 
Tell me, can you ever remember a time 
when we were not friends, you and I ? ” 

No answer from the window save 
that ceaseless tattoo. Jane’s gentle 
voice continued 

“ Why, even when we were little chil- 
dren, Eoger, and I scarcely able to 
toddle along beside you, do you re- 
member how you used to come every 
day and take me for a walk and show 
me the beautiful things in the store 
windows? Mother used to say she 
would trust me anywhere with Eoger, 
he was so steady and reliable though 
only two years older than I.” 

Still no answer from the window. 


“ DEER JANE.” 


“ Then the day you first went to school 
and I cried nearly all day because I 
wanted to go with you and they said 
I was too young. And then, Roger, 
the day I first went to school. Do you 
remember how proudly you took me 
by the hand and introduced me to the 
teacher as your little sister ” ? You 
always called me Sis in those days just 
as Dickie does now. I was so proud 
of my big brother who looked after 
me and petted and shielded me and 
fought my battles for me. You used 
to be very patient with me then and I 
must have tried you sorely at times. 
I had a nasty little temper even if you 
won’t admit it now. I often pulled 
your hair and tried to scratch you and 
bite you but you were always so good, 
so good to me. And once, surely you 
remember that awful day, on the way 
home from school I snatched your 
brand new slate and smashed it on the 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 


sidewalk because you were writing a 
note on it and I thought the note was 
to the little black-eyed girl across the 
street.” 

“ It wasn’t to the girl across the 
street.” 

“I know it wasn’t, Roger. I dis- 
covered later for whom the note was 
really intended. But you did ‘get 
mad at me ’ (as we used to put it) that 
day and left me to walk the rest of 
the way home alone. I wouldn’t let 
you see that I cared and marched 
along with my nose in the air, but 
do you know what I did when you 
turned the corner and could not see ? 
I stole back and picked up the broken 
pieces, then ran all the way home and 
cried and cried and cried because I 
could not put them together again 
and make the slate as good as new. 
But you could not remain angry long 
and came in that evening with a stick 


30 


“DEER JANE.’ 


of striped sugar candy as a peace 
offering. We made up again and 
ate the candy bite and bite in turn. 
Think of those days, Koger, shake 
hands and let’s be friends again just 
as we’ve always been.” 

“I do think of those days, Jane. I 
think of all you were to me then and 
of all you have been to me ever since, 
and I cannot, simply cannot stand by 
and see you marry that miserable old 
man. Tell me,” and the man at the 
window wheeled suddenly and faced 
her. “ Tell me why you are doing it ? 
I have been thinking it over all night 
and I cannot believe you to be what I 
thought in the first shock of surprise 
and anger. If he were a younger 
man or a different sort of man, it 
would not be quite so hard to bear, 
though hard enough, God knows.” 

<< Why do you say a different kind 
of a man, Eoger? You have never 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 


31 


met Mr. Alford, so how can you judge 
what kind of man he is ? ” 

“ I know what people say of him ; a 
man who stands alone in the world 
with not even one friend to call 
his own. A man who is absolutely 
worldly, hard and cynical, who has 
amassed great wealth, honestly to be 
sure, but has spent not one red cent 
on any creature but himself.” 

“ There you are very wrong, Roger, 
because he has spent a great many, 
not cents, but dollars, upon me and 
mine.” 

‘‘Upon you and yours? What do 
you mean ? ” 

“ Well, if you will please sit down 
and listen patiently I would like very 
much to tell you a story. There, 
that’s better. You look much more 
comfy now. We’ll begin as they do 
in the fairy tales, only this is an abso- 
lutely true story I am going to tell you. 


32 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


Once upon a time, and sometimes 
it seems ever and ever so long ago, 
and sometimes it might be only yes- 
terday, there lived a little girl who 
was very much the same as a number 
of other little girls living at the same 
time. She had a dear kind father 
and mother, younger brothers and 
sisters and one very good friend, a 
boy a trifle older than she. Well, 
everything went along smoothly and 
beautifully until this little girl was 
about twelve years old. The boy 
friend was visiting relatives in the 
far West that winter so he knew 
nothing of what happened in his ab- 
sence. You know the old saying 
about troubles never coming singly. 
It was certainly exemplifled in the 
case of this little girl. The father had 
never been a very strong man and 
that winter he had a severe illness 
from which he was slow to recover. 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 33 

Three of the children died, leaving 
only the girl of twelve, a boy of two 
and a small baby of a few weeks old. 
I can tell you, Eoger, the mother 
was hard pressed that winter to keep 
a roof over their heads and bread 
in their mouths. When the father 
finally recovered, the position he had 
filled for fifteen years had been given 
to a younger and stronger man. He 
tried everywhere for work, but every- 
where, his poor health told against 
him and at last they found them- 
selves on the verge of starvation. 

Now, this little girl had been 
thinking pretty hard for some time, 
and one day, instead of going to 
school where her mother had insisted 
upon keeping her despite all en- 
treaties to be allowed to come home 
and help in the sewing by which the 
family was supported, she started off 
on her own account to look for work. 


34: 


DEER JANE.’ 


There was a large factory not far 
from where she lived and she knew 
of girls who worked there and who 
were not much older than she. As I 
said, she was a queer little person in 
some ways, and, although frightened 
to death, she boldly marched into the 
office of the factory and demanded an 
interview with the owner himself. 
There were two or three office boys 
running errands, answering bells and 
inquiring into the business of all who 
entered. She tried each one in turn, 
only to be laughed at and not very 
politely refused. Still she persisted 
until one of the boys complained to a 
man clerk in the inner office. He 
came out and was peremptorily order- 
ing her off the premises, when a very 
tall man with iron-gray hair, stern 
face and piercing gray eyes, appeared 
in a doorway behind them and stood 
for a second listening to the alterca- 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 


35 


tion. The girl’s temper was up by 
that time, and she had quite a bad 
little temper too, and she stamped her 
foot and refused positively to stir 
from the place till she had seen the 
owner himself. The tall gray man 
stepped forward, with a look before 
which at any other time the girl 
would have fled immediately. Now, 
she was too thoroughly angry to 
notice. 

“ ‘ You won’t leave until you’ve seen 
the owner of this place himself, won’t 
you ? ’ said the gray man. 

^ No, I won’t,’ snapped the girl. 

^^^And what, may I ask, do you 
wish to say to the owner of this 
factory?’ demanded the man with 
another glare down on the small girl 
before him. 

‘ I’ll say what I have to say to the 
owner when I see him, not to you, 
thank you,’ retorted the girl, glaring 


36 “DEER JANE.” 

back into the stern face. Then, see- 
ing the horrified amazement of those 
who had watched the scene, the girl 
suddenly guessed the truth. Stepping 
quickly up to the tall man she held 
out her hand and, smiling very 
sweetly, said as politely as she knew 
how: 

“ ‘ Oh ! sir, I’m very sorry I spoke 
like that. You see, I didn’t know. I 
suppose you must own this place 
yourself.’ 

“ ‘ Yes, young lady, I am the owner 
of this factory and now what can I 
do for you?’ 

“ ‘ Well, then,’ answered the girl, 
slipping her hand into one of his, 
‘just take me to your private office 
and I’ll tell you all about it.’” 

For a second, the gray man stared 
in blank astonishment. He wore a 
heavy fur coat and his automobile 
was at the door. An expression of 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 37 

grim amusement crossed his face as 
he drew out his watch and looked 
at it. 

“ ‘ I’m ten minutes late for that 
Directors’ Meeting now,’ he muttered. 
Then, throwing open the door behind 
them, he passed through to his 
private office taking the girl with 
him. 

“ In spite of the fact that a most 
important meeting was waiting for 
him, and a messenger had already 
been sent to request his immediate 
presence, that man, stern, cold, cyn- 
ical as the world called him, listened 
kindly and patiently to the story of 
that little girl. He has told her since 
it was the spirit and temper of her 
that won him. As a rule, people 
feared, hated or fawned upon him; 
none before had dared defy him to 
his face. When she had finished, he 
said very gently : 


88 


“ DEEE JANE.’ 


“ ‘ How old are you, my dear ? ’ 

“ ‘ Just twelve.’ 

“ ‘ And you want to come here to 
work ? ’ 

“ ‘ Yes, sir, please ; indeed I do.’ 

“ ‘ You’re quite sure there is noth- 
ing else you want of me but that?’ 
and he looked searchingly at her. 

‘“Quite, quite sure. If you give 
me work here I can help mother till 
father finds a position. Even if he 
does not, mother and I together can 
take care of the family.’ 

“ For a few seconds the man 
studied the child’s face and his own 
grew sad rather than stern. Eising 
with a sigh, he said under his breath : 

“ ‘ If I had only had someone like 
her, what a different man I might 
have been ! ’ 

“ ‘ Then, after asking where she 
lived and writing down the address 
she gave him, he once more took her 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 


39 


by the hand, ushered her through the 
outer office and, to her great astonish- 
ment as well as that of the clerks 
and office boys who were peeping, 
he lifted her into his automobile 
and wrapped the fur rugs carefully 
around her. To the amazed chauf- 
feur he handed the slip of paper upon 
which he had written her address, 
with the command to get there as 
quickly as possible. He then leaned 
back in the seat beside her and said 
to himself with a chuckle : 

^ I’d give a cool million to have 
those directors lined up here along 
the curb just to see the expression on 
their faces. Well, I guess old Alford 
can snap his fingers at them and keep 
meetings waiting all day if he should 
happen to prefer a motor ride with a 
most unusual little girl.’ 

Well, Roger, I need not tell you 
the little girl was myself and the tall 


4:0 “DEER JANE.” 

gray man was Mr. Alford. He took , 
me home that day, talked with father 
and mother, gave father a position in 
the factory where he would have only 
light, easy work to do and paid him 
three times as much as he really 
earned. In that way, I could con- 
tinue at school and help mother in 
the house besides. 

“ Then, when father and mother 
went to Heaven, both inside of three 
months the year I was eighteen, Mr. 
Alford again proved himself our good 
angel. He paid all expenses of both 
funerals, telling me it was merely a 
loan and I must repay it some day. 
He well knew I never could, but said 
it to save my feelings I suppose. He 
also took me into his office and 
trained me to be his chief assistant. 

I wish you could know how kind he 
was to me then, never finding fault 
and patient always, no matter how 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 


41 


many mistakes I made. I made 
plenty of them at first, too. You 
were away that time, also, Roger. In 
New York, you remember, studying 
with that wonderful French artist, I 
never can recall his name. I did not 
want to worry my kind friend, who I 
knew had plenty of worries of his 
own, so I wrote merely the news of 
father’s and mother’s passing away 
and that I was working in a very 
congenial and easy position. 

Since your return, your friend- 
ship has meant much to me. It has 
been pleasant to have you come and 
tell me of your hopes and plans and 
ambitions. You will be a great man 
in the end, of that I am certain. The 
way just now is all up-hill, but some 
day you will reach the top and all the 
world will be looking up to you. On 
that day, I shall be proud to say, ^ that 
man was once my best friend.’ I 


42 


“DEER JANE. 


shall be prouder still if I can say, 
‘ and he is still my best friend.’ 

“As for Mr. Alford, if you really 
knew him, you would honor and love 
him as I do.” 

Eoger had sat very still during 
Jane’s recital and when she finished 
he rose to his feet snd stood before 
her. 

“ Jane,” he said penitently, “ will 
you please to try to forgive me for 
what I said to you last night ? I can 
never forgive myself.” 

“ There is nothing to forgive,” she 
answered kindly, “ I knew you did not 
mean it for you did not understand.” 

“And, also, Jane, best, truest and 
noblest of women, I hope you will be 
happy always, always. If you are, I 
shall try to be content. And now, 
Jane, good-bye.” 

Jane rose and leaned one hand 
lightly on the table beside her. 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 


43 


“ Good-bye, Roger ? ” 

“ Yes, good-bye, and God bless you.^’ 

He held out his hand to her and she 
laid hers in it. The next second, he 
was at the door, his fingers on the 
knob. 

“ One moment, Roger please,’’ Jane 
called quickly. 

She had turned away and was ex- 
amining some ornament upon the 
mantel. The man turned but Jane 
did not. With her face away from 
him, she went on speaking. 

“ There is something of yours on 
the table, Roger. I was going to burn 
it last night but I thought, just pos- 
sibly you might like it to keep. It is 
really yours, you know. Lift that 
handkerchief and you will find it.” 

The man raised the handkerchief 
and lifted the small object it had con- 
cealed; the broken corner of a child’s 
slate with a stub of slate pencil 


44 


DEER JANE.’ 


attached to it by a bit of knotted and 
very much soiled string. On the 
slate, were written two words in a 
sprawling, childish hand. The writ- 
ing had been his own ; the words 
were, “deer Jane.” 

Dead silence filled the little room 
and Jane did not move from her posi- 
tion by the mantel until long after she 
had heard a man’s unsteady footsteps 
making for the door, and heard the 
closing of the door from the other side- 

One month later, two persons 
leaned on the rail of an Atlantic liner 
and watched the lights on shore 
receding slowly, slowly, dying and 
disappearing one by one. The figures 
were those of a woman and a boy. 
The boy leaned his head against her 
shoulder and placed his arm gently 
about her. The woman’s cheek 
rested against his rough traveling 
cap and she asked gently : 


THE BROKEN SLATE. 45 

“What’s the trouble, Dickie boy? 
Tell Sis all about it.” 

“ Nothing, Sis, nothing. Only ” 

“ Only what, dearie ? ” 

“ Nothing, just nothing, I guess.” 

A very tall man who had been 
walking up and down with a little 
girl clinging to his arm and chatter- 
ing like a magpie, heard the questions 
and answers. Stopping beside the 
two at the rail, he laid his hand on 
the lad’s shoulder and said kindly : 

“ Richard, my man, I fear you have 
never really liked me and never really 
trusted me. I promise you solemnly 
neither you nor your sister shall ever 
regret this day. My one wish, my 
one purpose in life now is to make my 
wife the happiest woman in the world. 
Will you not try to like me a little, 
Richard, and trust me absolutely ? ” 

In the semi-darkness, the man and 
boy looked into each other’s eyes, then 


46 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


their right hands met in a hearty 
clasp. Jane smiled to herself then 
sighed softly as the very last light on 
shore disappeared from her view. 

At that same moment, in his 
sparsely furnished, half heated room, 
a hitherto unknown and struggling 
artist sat with the evening newspaper 
crushed in one hand, a bit of broken 
slate in the other, while unheeded at 
his feet lay the first large commission 
that had come to him. That commis- 
sion meant fame and fortune for him, 
but he gave it not a single thought. 
He looked only at the bit of slate and 
whispered low : 

‘‘ Good-bye, ‘ deer Jane,’ good-bye.” 


CHAPTER III. 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 

John Alford paused in his walk up 
and down the veranda of his home 
and smiled amusedly at a party of 
three people who broke from the 
shelter of the shrubbery and raced 
swiftly across the snow-covered lawn. 
Well in advance, her skirts held high 
with both hands, her eyes sparkling 
and cheeks glowing, sped Jane. She 
flew up the steps, dashed behind her 
tall husband and, grasping his arms 
to steady herself, peeped around at 
her pursuers. 

^‘Save me, John, save me,” she 
panted, laughing and breathless. 
“ Those two vandals swore they 

would roll me in a snow-drift if I 
47 


48 “ deer jane.” 

beat them from the station to the 
house, and you see I did.” 

The other two had followed swiftly 
on Jane’s heels and John Alford 
grasped each assailant with one hand 
and glared at them in pretended 
anger. 

“ What do you mean, sir, and you. 
Miss,” he demanded sternly, the while 
his eyes twinkled and the corners of 
his mouth twitched in his effort to 
keep from smiling. “ I am shocked, 
I am scandalized by such behavior. 
If you have any excuses to offer, do 
so at once before I call my men and 
dogs and have you forcibly ejected.” 

“ Oh ! I say, Nunkey, you’re too 
mean for anything. She didn’t play 
fair. She cheated, choosing the very 
shortest way and betting we couldn’t 
get here as soon as she. We weren’t 
to run even one step but walk as fast 
as we could, and the very first second 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 49 

we spied her through the trees, she 
was running like a quarter-miler. I 
say she deserves a good rolling in that 
big snow-bank on the other side 
of the driveway, and I’m sure Rich- 
ard agrees with me.” This from the 
very pretty, very excited girl of seven- 
teen whom his left hand was holding 
firmly. His right grasped the collar 
of Richard’s coat and he shook that 
youth playfully as he turned to him. 

‘‘And what defense have you to 
make in this matter. Sir ? ” 

“ None at all, John, absolutely none, 
except to confess that, at the moment 
we spied Sis running, Elaine and I 
were running too as fast as we could 
go. I move that the affair be dropped 
and the court adjourned to the house 
and the tea-table.” 

“ Oh ! you squealer, you squealer,” 
cried Elaine. I’ll get even with you 
for this, just see if I don’t.” 


50 


“ DEER JANE.' 


Then the four burst into irrepress- 
ible laughter like a crowd of happy 
children. John Alford released the 
culprits and Jane led the way indoors. 

“ Come right up to my own sitting- 
room, good people, do,” she urged. 
“ It is much more cosy than the den 
or the library. You can just throw 
aside your wraps, Elaine, and I’ll have 
a nice hot cup of tea and toasted 
muffins, and marmalade, Dickie, in a 
very few moments. You blessed, 
blessed children, it is so good to have 
you home again, and how well you 
are both looking, are they not, John ? ” 

John Alford sank into his own 
special easy-chair beside the open fire 
and made great pretense of polishing 
his glasses before inspecting the new- 
comers. 

“ Well,” he remarked at last judi- 
cially, “ I really think Richard could 
hardly be improved upon. Believe 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 51 

me, lad, I m more than glad to have 
you home again,” and he held out his 
hand to his young brother-in-law 
and gave him a cordial grasp of good- 
fellowship. Between these two, a 
friendship had sprung up which was 
more like the strong affection between 
an honored and revered father and 
his only son, than simply the friend- 
ship of man to man. Jane’s eyes 
danced happily, as she noticed the 
look which passed between the two. 

And Elaine, John, what do you 
think of Elaine ? ” 

Elaine ? Well, let me see. She 
has certainly grown taller and she 
looks well enough. But, for heaven’s 
sake, my dear, what is that fearful 
arrangement of buns and rolls and 
doughnuts on your head? It makes 
me think of a bakeshop window that 
had somehow made his escape and 
gone out for a walk.” 


52 


DEER JANE.’ 


With a shriek, the girl . flew across 
the room, took him by the shoulders 
and vainly tried to shake him. His 
massive form moved never an inch 
in the grasp of her small hands. 

“ You hateful old wretch of a Nun- 
key,” she exclaimed. “ That is the 
very latest thing in hairdressing. I 
learned it last week when I was visit- 
ing the Fosters in New York. You 
know they are too terribly swell for 
anything and always have the very 
latest things. Both Adelaide and 
Miriam wear their hair just like this. 
In fact, all the really swell girls do 
now. ” 

“ Dear me, how very monotonous 
that must be. But, my dear child, 
make yourself into as many bakeshops 
as you please if you are any happier 
for it.” 

“ Well, he was a blessed old Nunkey 
and one of these days we’ll do his hair 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 53 

up into nice little curls and puffs and 
things. It would look just beautiful 
it’s so thick and soft and silvery.” 

By the way, Elaine,” broke in Kich- 
ard, “I have often meant to ask 
you where on earth you got that awful 
title of Nunkey and why, in the name 
of all the philosophers, do you apply it 
to J ohn ? Every time I hear it, I look 
around expecting to see you address- 
ing some silly little poodle with pink 
eyes and shaggy hair or a small an- 
gora kitten with a blue ribbon around 
its neck.” 

“You horrid, nasty Richard to say 
such things. I think it is a perfectly 
sweet name and I feel very proud to 
think I invented it all myself. Look 
here, Nunkey, which would you rather 
be, a shaggy little poodle with pink 
eyes or a dear cunning angora kitten 
with a blue ribbon around your neck ? 
I rather fancy the blue ribbon, it would 


54 “ deer jane.” 

become you so. Oh ! you needn’t pre- 
tend you’re as cross as a bear ; 
you couldn’t frighten me no matter 
how hard you tried. I will confess, 
though, I was horribly afraid of you 
once. I thought you were a detestable 
old curmudgeon and told Jane so the 
day she broke the news to us that she 
was going to marry you. My, didn’t 
we pitch into her ! But I found out 
since that she was right and now 
you’re just my dear, ducky darling of 
a Nunkey, and I will pull his hair if I 
want to and I will tweak his nose if I 
want to and he may pretend to be as 
cross as a bear but he just has to give 
it up and smile all over his blessed old 
face even if he does think me a per- 
fectly silly little donkey. Just look at 
him now, Jane. Isn’t he sweet when 
he smiles like that ? ” 

‘‘ You very absurd child,” came 
across the room in Jane’s calm voice. 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 55 

I do wish you would stop plaguing 
that poor long-suffering husband of 
mine and come help me pour the tea, 
or better still, you and Eichard draw 
the table over beside the fire and we’ll 
drink our tea and eat our muffins and 
each of you in turn will tell all that 
has happened since the summer vaca- 
tion ended and you returned to school.” 

The table was moved according to 
instructions and Jane commenced 
pouring the tea. 

^‘Well, Eichard,” remarked John 
Alford with a sly glance at Elaine ; 

you’d better tell us your story first, 
because once Elaine begins to talk 
not one of us will have any chance to 
even get a word in edgeways. When 
the sun rises to-morrow morning, it 
will probably find her still holding 
forth to three absolutely unconscious 
listeners who have fallen into a sleep 
of complete exhaustion.” 


56 “ deer jane.” 

Elaine’s only answer was to pop 
two lumps of sugar into his cup when 
Jane was not looking. She knew he 
hated tea with sugar in it and she 
knew, too, he would drink it every 
drop believing Jane had fixed it for 
him and not wishing to hurt her by 
calling attention to the mistake. 

“ Yes, Dickie dear, do tell us every- 
thing you’ve been doing, all the prizes 
you’ve won and the good times you’ve 
had, and the pranks you’ve played. 
I’m just dying to know all about it,” 
and Elaine smiled sweetly at Richard 
as she handed her brother-in-law his 
tea, then settled herself in a low chair 
nearby where she could watch him 
drink it and gloat over every swallow. 

“Well, really,” began Richard, 
“there is hardly anything to tell. 
You know how it is yourself, John, 
when a man is working for honors. 
There’s little time for fun or pranks 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 57 

or anything but a steady grind, grind, 
grind all the time.” 

“ Yes, Dick, I know. But how 
about the Crawford scholarship that 
you had set your heart upon winning ? 
How is your standing so far in that ? ” 
“ Oh ! ” indifferently, “ I have with- 
drawn from that contest.” 

“ Withdrawn ! Oh ! Eichard, it is 
not like you to give up so easily.” 
Jane’s tone was grieved and sur- 
prised. Eichard reddened slightly 
under the implied rebuke but he 
smiled kindly at her as he answered : 

“You won’t mind. Sis, when you 
hear my reason; but I do not know 
just what John will say to a little 
piece of news I have to tell you all. 
When I leave college next spring, I 
shall not go to law school as we had 
planned that I should do. I have 
been thinking it over for nearly two 
years now and have arrived at a final 


58 “ DEER JANE.” 

decision which I feel sure is the right 
one ; but I’m afraid you will not like 
it, John.” 

■ “You mean you have decided not 
to take up law as I had hoped you 
would, but are going to do something 
else?” 

“ Yes, John, exactly.” 

“ Well, I admit it will be something 
of a disappointment to me, but I can 
trust you to do the right, the manly, 
the honorable thing always. If your 
sister is pleased and you think you 
are right, go ahead and be anything 
you like. I will help you all I can 
even should your ambition soar to the 
height of wishing to become scullery- 
maid or groom of the back-stairs.” 

“ My tastes do not incline in 
precisely those directions,” laughed 
Eichard. “ The only reason I feared 
you might not approve my choice is 
because, not being of our Faith, you 


OVER THE TEA-TAPLE. 59 

might not look upon these things as 
we do.” 

Oh, Richard ! You don’t mean 

” began Jane breathlessly, her 

face radiant and expectant. 

“ Yes, Sis, I do mean. I wish very 
much to enter the Seminary next fall 
and try to fit myself for the grandest 
profession it is within any man’s 
power to choose, the profession of 
saving souls.” 

John Alford glanced at his wife’s 
face and remarked quietly : 

Richard, as you say, I am not of 
your Faith and have lived pretty 
nearly the life of an absolute pagan 
in some ways. I have given no 
thought to religion of any kind, at 
least, until a few years ago, I have 
not. I own I had high ambitions for 
you, Dickie lad, for you have been 
as a son to me. I have often sat 
here and planned your future success 


60 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


which I was to help you to win and 
of which I would be so proud. But 
that look on your sister’s face is quite 
enough for me. Go ahead, dear boy, 
become a good and worthy priest since 
you feel you are drawn to that life, 
and call on me for anything that may 
be necessary.” 

Tears trembled on Jane’s lashes, 
tears of thanksgiving and happiness 
and Richard’s voice shook as he 
tried to express his gratitude. Elaine 
sprang to her feet and caught at the 
tea-cup John was raising to his lips 
for the first time, having been too 
interested in Richard’s talk to realize 
that tea was made to drink, not merely 
to hold in one’s hand in a very fragile 
china cup. Utterly indifferent to the 
fact that she spilled half the tea over 
the man’s coat and also sent the 
saucer flying out of his hand onto the 
floor where it lay in fragments, Elaine 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 


61 


calmly deposited the cup she held 
upon the table and proceeded to pour 
out a fresh one. 

“ There you are, Nunkey dear. 
That other tea was just stone cold 
and I’m sure you’d much rather have 
a nice hot cup even if Jane did pour 
the other, and only poor little me fixed 
this. No, Nunkey, there’s no sugar 
in it. I always remember you can’t 
abide tea with sugar in it. 

And now, you blessed people, may 
I begin and tell you of all my doings ? 
Mine’ll just knock Eichard’s into a 
cocked hat.” 

‘^Elaine dear,” Jane’s voice was a 
comic mixture of amusement and 
despair ; will you never outgrow 
that dreadful habit of using slang? 
What must the ladies of the Sacre 
Coeur think of you.” 

‘‘ They think I’m a regular duck, 
but they do shy at my slang some- 


62 


DEER JANE. 


times. If you only knew the hours 
IVe spent in penance because I simply 
cannot get over my slang habit ! The 
year I was in Paris I was all right, be- 
cause we talked nothing but French. 
I’m a perfectly proper, prisms and 
prunes sort of fine lady in French, I 
do assure you. One day, I spent 
hours and hours trying to find some 
French slang in the dictionary, but 
the very best I could do was a few 
swear words, not real bad ones you 
know, just ones that would be about 
the same as our ‘ oh fudge ! ’ or ‘ rats ! ’ 
or things like that. I used to say 
them to myself occasionally and once 
I blurted one out in the middle of 
public examinations because some- 
thing happened to make me terribly 
excited. Gee ! I wish you could have 
seen the dear nuns’ faces. Yours 
truly was in her room ‘ in solitary ’ on 
a diet of bread and water for a week. 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 63 

French people haven’t any sense of 
humor, really. I think slang must be 
my native tongue. I do honestly try 
to be careful, but words will slip out 
now and then.” 

“I suppose we will have to over- 
look the slang, child, so just go ahead 
and tell us what you’ve been doing 
and how many hearts you broke 
while in New York on that wonder- 
ful visit you wrote us about. Above 
all, break to me as gently as pos- 
sible the number of millinery and 
soda and candy bills that will come 
pouring in on me the first of next 
month,” and John Alford kindly 
patted the hand reaching for his 
empty cup. 

“ Speaking of broken hearts reminds 
me ! ” exclaimed Elaine. '' I’ve got so 
much to tell you it’ll take a week at 
least, but the most important of all is 
something that happened at a dinner 


DEER JANE/ 


the Fosters gave for me. The broken 
hearts reminded me of it. 

Well, as I said, the Fosters gave a 
big dinner in honor of poor little me. 
Of course I wanted to look nice so I 
put on my very bestest white frock, 
you know the one, Janey, all lovely 
embroidery and real lace. It is just a 
simple little thing, but I knew all the 
women’s eyes would pop right out of 
their heads when they saw that lace. 
Then I got out that splendiferous 
dull gold necklace and bracelet you 
sent me for my birthday, Nunkey 
dear, and I wouldn’t wear any other 
ornament. By the way, I wish you 
could have seen the sensation that 
birthday present caused at the con- 
vent. Mother Superior herself locked 
them away in the safe and poor Sister 
Martha (one of the lay-sisters, you 
know, who work in the kitchen), 
used to stand St. Anthony on top of 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 65 

the safe every night for fear some 
one might come in and steal the 
wonderful necklace. 

“When I was all dressed for the 
dinner you may be sure I felt mighty 
grand and went sailing down the 
broad staircase at the very last min- 
ute on purpose. At least, I started to 
sail and got to within a few steps of 
the bottom all right, when my foot 
caught in something and I plunged 
headlong into the arms of a man who 
had just come up the lower flight of 
stairs. I looked up quickly to beg 
his pardon and you’d never guess in 
a hundred years who the man was. 
None other than Eoger, our own old 
Eoger, ever so much thinner, very 
grave and quiet and those lovely dark 
curls of his all speckled with white 
at the temples. But he’s the same 
dear old Eoger that he used to be and 
he knew me at once, though he said 


66 


DEEE JANE.’ 


I’d changed a whole heap in five 
years.” 

“And who, may I ask, is Roger?” 
interrupted John Alford curiously. 

“Do you mean to say you never 
heard about Roger ? ” 

“ No, baby, never, and he seems to 
be quite an important personage, at 
least in your estimation.” 

Jane answered him in her usual 
quiet voice. “ Roger was once my very 
best friend, John. W e played together 
as children and he used to be with us 
a great deal before I was married.” 

“ But why has he not called on us 
since, my dear? Surely you must 
have known any friend of yours 
would be most welcome.” 

“Why, you silly old Nunkey, he 
was sweet on Jane and it just broke 
his heart when she refused him and 
married you.” 

“ Don’t be absurd, Elaine,” Jane 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 07 

said quickly. “ I never refused Eoger 
because he never asked me to marry 
him. You know he was just a friend 
to all of us.” 

“ Friend be hanged, Janey dear. 
Roger was just crazy over you and 
you know it. Oh ! you don’t need to 
look like that, Nunkey. Jane never 
cared a snap of her fingers for him. 
That was the way with Jane ; people 
would simply adore her and she’d 
never see it. She’d walk along with 
her nose in the air and her head in 
the clouds, trampling unmercifully 
upon a string of broken hearts and 
never even knowing what she was 
stepping on.” 

“ Elaine,” cried Jane half vexedly, 
“ if you do not stop talking such abso- 
lute nonsense, I shall send you to bed 
at once and keep you there for a week 
with nothing to eat but dry bread and 
water.” 


68 


“ DEER JANE/ 


“ Now, Janey, don’t take a leaf out 
of the book of those dear nuns in Paris. 
Besides, Nunkey won’t let me be pun- 
ished for just telling the truth, will 
you, Nunkey ? 

But where was I when my very 
rude sister interrupted me ? ” 

If I remember rightly,”* said John 
Alford, we left you in the arms of 
some dear, darling Roger whose heart 
my wife is supposed to have broken.” 

‘^And she did break it, too, but 
Roger is not the man to pick up the 
broken pieces and pet them and cry 
over them and spend the rest of his 
life moaning and moping and trying 
to look sad and interesting. He’s the 
sort who’ll try to stick the pieces to- 
gether, turn a brave face to the world 
and go on and make; something of him- 
self. He’s done it, too, become famous 
I mean, and he’s nearly got his heart 
stuck together again. There’s still 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 09 

just a little rent in it as I could see 
when he asked for ‘ Mrs. Alford ^ if 
you please, but I’m going to mend 
that for him. You know, Janey, I said 
once I’d marry him myself one of these 
days. I’ve about made my mind up to 
do it unless I meet someone I like better 
when I go around and see more people.” 

“ That is very kind and charitable 
of you, I’m sure,” remarked John. 
“ But is the gentleman aware of 
your intention ? ” 

‘‘ Of course not, Nunkey ; but he’ll 
be delighted, I am sure, when I tell 
him about it. I do wish you people 
wouldn’t keep putting me out like this, 
though. Here I’ve been standing at 
the foot of the stairs all this time with 
Roger when we ought to have reached 
the fish course at least. 

Well, as I was saying, Roger was 
so glad to see me he just caught both 
my hands and pumped up and down 


70 


DEER JANE.’ 


like a steam engine. Of course, we 
were right in sight of the guests in 
the drawing-room waiting for dinner to 
be announced, and you bet they were 
all rubbering good and plenty too. 
That made my spirit of mischief wake 
up for fair, and I thought I’d give 
those old tabbies something to stare 
at through their eyeglasses with long 
pearl sticks to hold them up by. They 
make me sick, anyway, both the 
tabbies and the lorgnettes. I gave a 
funny little squeal and cried out loud 
so’s they’d all hear me. 

^ Why, Roger, you blessed old boy, 
whatever have you been doing to your 
hair? I do believe it hasn’t had a 
decent combing since the last time I 
did it for you.’ 

“You remember, Janey, when I’d 
want to tease Roger specially hard I’d 
make him let me comb his hair for 
him. 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 71 

“ ‘ Got a comb in your pocket, sir ? ’ I 
demanded sternly. 

Of course he hadn’t, so I ordered 
him to remain where he was and not 
move hand or foot till I returned. He’d 
caught sight of the tabbies by this 
time and was on to my little game. 
Roger was always a good hand at 
pranks of any kind. I flew upstairs, 
into the first room I came to and 
snatched a comb from the dresser. 
Downstairs again, taking good care 
to trip on purpose this time and jump 
straight into Roger’s arms. 

“ ‘ I hope you are not hurt,’ he said 
very gravely. 

‘ No,’ says I, ‘ I’m not ; but I’d have 
been killed if it had not been for you. 
Thank you for saving my life. 

‘ And now, sir, down on your knees 
and I’ll fix your hair for you just as I 
used to do.’ 

“ Down on his knees he went very 


72 


“ DEER JANE.” 


promptly and you should have seen 
the horror and amazement on the 
faces of the tabbies. It seems Roger 
is terribly grand, sought out by the 
very swellest people, who feel like 
patting themselves on the back if he 
will condescend to bow to them on the 
street. Adelaide says the women 
adore him and he is frigidly polite to 
those he happens to meet, will smile 
over their heads and tell them what 
lovely weather we are having, look 
unutterably bored and then get away 
from them as soon as he can. Our 
Roger, it seems, is quite the rage and 
fails to appreciate the fact. I asked if 
he posed as a woman-hater and he 
said, he wouldn’t waste time enough 
on them to hate them. You can im- 
agine the sensation it caused when he 
popped down on his knees at my 
behest and not only submitted to 
having his hair combed in public but 


OVER THE TEA-TABLE. 73 

actually seemed to like it. I gave his 
topknot a final dab and then stood 
back to see the effect of my work. I 
tossed the comb to an astonished foot- 
man who stood near, told Roger to 
get up immediately or he’d get a 
cramp in his knees, then sailed into 
the drawing-room on the arm of the 
lion of the evening. He took me in to 
dinner, too, he fixed the deal with Mrs. 
Foster, and talked with me as much 
as he possibly could all the rest of the 
evening. Gee ! but didn’t the other 
girls and the scheming mammas just 
glare at me and won’t they hate me if 
I ever go into New York society again. 
Roger said he’d come to see me if I 
were going to be in town for long, but 
I told him I had to leave in two days. 
He’s going to write to me, though, and 
I mean to kind of keep an eye on him 
after this. Say, Janey, would you hke 
to have Roger for a brother?” 


Y4 “ DEER JANE.” 

For scarce a second, Jane hesitated, 
then said cordially : 

“ Indeed I would, dear, if you think 
you would be happy with Eoger and 
could make him happy too. But, 
dearie me, children, will you look 
at that clock? Nearly dinner-time 
already and every one of us still 
in walking togs and shirt-waists. 
Hurry, hurry, or we’ll all be late and 
John never likes to eat cold soup, do 
you, dear?” and Jane laid her hand 
softly, tenderly on her husband’s 
white hair. 

For answer, he caught the hand, 
held it to his cheek for a second then 
kissed it very gently. It was the 
hand that wore his wedding ring. 


CHAPTEB IV. 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 

‘‘Jane, did you ever waste any of 
your valuable time looking at pictures 
in the fire ? ” 

“Why no, John, I don’t believe I 
ever thought of doing such a thing. 
Why?” and Jane smiled at him as he 
lounged in his easy-chair beside the 
open fireplace and gazed thoughtfully 
into the glowing coals. 

“ Well, if you can spare a few mo- 
ments from that eternal knitting of 
yours — by the way, I should think all 
the old men and women in the town 
would be well supplied with warm 
stockings by this time — I should like 
very much to show you a few pictures 

at which I am looking now.” 

75 


76 


DEEB JANE.’ 


“You blessed old dear,” laughed 
Jane. “No one but you would think 
of alluding to this pink and white 
creation as stockings for old men and 
women. It is a little wrap I am mak- 
ing for Elaine for Christmas. But I 
should like to see those pictures you 
speak of, so will lay my knitting aside 
until to-morrow. No, dear, do not get 
up; I don’t want a chair; I’ll just 
move this ottoman close to your chair 
and sit at your feet, so.” And Jane, 
leaning back against the arm of his 
chair, folded her hands in her, lap 
and looked into the fire wondering at 
this rather strange whim of her 
husband’s. 

Possibly guessing her thought, he 
remarked gently : 

“ I dare say it seems rather a child- 
ish proceeding to you, my dear, but I 
have a special reason for this as you 
will see before I am through. I want 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 77 

you to look right into the heart of the 
fire, into that glowing little cave 
among the coals, and try to see these 
pictures as I see them and as I shall 
describe them to you. First of all I 
see a little boy, such a lonely, lonely 
little chap, wandering from room to 
room of a great, almost deserted, 
family mansion, or standing discon- 
solately at the window looking out 
upon the dreary street through which 
but few people pass to and fro. His 
mother he had never known, for the 
day that gave him life was her last 
upon the earth. His only remem- 
brance of his father is of a man who 
has returned to his home but twice 
since his wife’s death, a man who has 
never spoken even one word to this, 
his only child, and before whose 
frown the boy fled in terror the only 
time they had met by accident in one 
of the corridors. 


78 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


I see that boy passing from baby- 
hood to childhood, from childhood 
into youth under the care of a hard- 
featured, harsh-natured middle-aged 
spinster whom he calls Aunt, and 
who hates him as she had hated his 
young mother before him. Even 
the servants are old and sour and 
cranky and there is no one in that 
household to say a kindly word to 
that very lonely little lad. There had 
been one, his nurse, who had known 
and loved his mother and who 
watched and tended him with faith- 
ful devotion. But one day the stern 
Aunt had discovered them in the 
master’s den, seated before a picture 
of a sweet-faced girl, the nurse telling 
him of the loveliness, and gentle- 
ness and kindness of that fair young 
mother he had never seen, who would 
have loved and cherished him had she 
only been spared to do so. The nurse 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 79 

was dismissed, the door of the den 
kept locked in future and the boy 
had never again been able to secure 
even a glimpse of his mother’s 
picture. 

“Now, close your eyes a second, 
Jane, and when you open them again, 
there will be another picture for you 
to look at. This time, I see a youth on 
his way to college in a large city not 
far from the town which held his an- 
cestral home. It is the first time he 
has been outside the walls of his 
house except for his daily walks, with 
a maid during his childhood, with 
his tutor as he grew older. He has 
never had companions of his own age, 
never played with other children, 
never come in contact with any out- 
side his own household. He had 
often glanced enviously at groups of 
boys and girls, sometimes ragged, 
barefooted groups, who romped noisily 


80 “ deer jane.” 

and happily. They in turn would 
stop in their play at times and stare 
back at him as he marched past with 
maid or tutor at his side. I dare say 
they envied him his good clothes, 
his fine house, his servants and his 
wealth. God knows, the poor little 
beggar should have pitied, not envied. 

‘‘Well, he is now on his way to 
college and you can readily imagine 
the fate that awaits him there. He 
longs for friends, he longs for kind- 
ness and sympathy but he does not 
know how to meet the advances of 
the other boys. He is partly afraid 
of them, partly shy with them and 
his diffidence is mistaken for pride 
and sullenness. He knows nothing of 
boys’ games or of sports and his first 
awkward attempts are greeted with 
shouts of laughter from thoughtless, 
however well meaning spectators. 
Stung by the ridicule he withdraws 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 81 

more and more into himself and 
determines, since he cannot hold his 
own in the social or athletic field, to 
devote himself to that in which he is 
right at home. He earns for himself 
the reputation of being hard, cold, re- 
pellant and a recluse, but he also 
carries all before him in the line of 
academic honors. His companions 
hate him and carry that feeling out 
into the world with them when they 
leave college and commence their real 
life. 

“ The next picture in the series is 
not a pleasant one to contemplate 
and we will pass over it as quickly as 
possible. It is that of a young man 
who dreams a beautiful dream ; a 
dream so rare and wonderful that the 
mere thought of it fairly takes his 
breath away. It is the picture of a 
young man waking from his dream, 
his trust betrayed, his youthful ideals 


82 “DEER JANE.” 

destroyed, all his hopes trampled upon. 
Never mind how it is done or by 
whom, but from that day the title of 
cynic is added to all the other hard 
names he has been called. There- 
after he devotes himself to business, 
amasses wealth, though never at the 
expense of any one else ; is feared, 
hated, respected, and toadied to, but 
loved by none. 

‘‘And now, my dear Jane, I come 
to the sweetest* picture of all. It is 
the one I love the best and see the 
oftenest, and one I shall forget, never, 
never. It is the picture of a stern, 
gray-haired man, frowning down 
upon a very small, very angry, little 
girl. He is so accustomed to seeing 
people cower before that frown of his, 
that it is a most refreshing surprise 
to see this wee lady frown back and 
openly defy him. Then the lovely 
smile with which she apologized 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 33 

when realizing her mistake and the 
pretty air of command, never doubt- 
ing but that her behest would be 
obeyed, when she says : ^ Take me to 
your private office and I’ll tell you all 
about it ! ’ 

^‘Oh! Jane, my Jane, at that mo- 
ment when you slipped your little 
hand into mine and looked up at me 
so confidingly, the world became a 
different place for me. You will 
never know what I felt as I sat in my 
office that day and listened to your 
story and the pathetic little plea for 
work so that you might help the folks 
at home. I longed to gather you up 
in my arms and hold you safe from 
all care and worry, you seemed such a 
baby to me. But though a child in 
years, those great wistful eyes were 
the eyes of a woman and I dared not 
do more than hold your hand. 

“ A new life began for me on that 


84 


“ DEER JANE.” 


day and my one wish, my one thought 
was to make you happy, you and 
yours. I watched you grow from 
childhood into womanhood and each 
day the thought of you grew more 
dear, more precious. 

When your father and mother 
died I would have given all I owned 
for the right to care for you and 
shield you always. But I was a man 
of fifty-eight even then and you only 
a girl of eighteen. To me it seemed 
impossible that you could care for one 
as old as I, so I held my peace and 
gave you employment by which you 
could support yourself and brother 
and sister. For six years I looked 
on in silence, while you struggled 
bravely, patiently, to secure the bare 
necessities of life. It was not until I 
saw you breaking under the strain of 
it, growing thinner, paler, every day, 
that I dared to ask you to become my 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 85 

wife and let me take you away from 
drudgery and from care. I had 
many misgivings at the time, dear, 
and debated long with myself before 
I spoke to you. It was you I was 
thinking of, your happiness I wanted 
to secure, and yet there was one thing 
I failed to take into consideration. It 
is something that never even occurred 
to me until to-day, and that is the 
possibility that there might have been 
some other man, a younger man per- 
haps, whom you could have preferred 
to me. Elaine’s chatter to-day has set 
me thinking, child, and I hope, I do 
sincerely hope that I did you no 
wrong the day I took you for my 
wife. These five years have been 
happy, happy ones for me, my wife, 
but have they been so for you ? ” 

Jane’s voice was deep with feeling 
as she answered slowly ; 

‘‘ John, dear, I want you to believe 


86 


DEER JANE.’ 


that I speak truly when I tell you 
that these five years have been the 
very happiest I have ever known and 
you are the best and noblest and dear- 
est man in all the wide, wide world.” 

“ God bless you for that, Jane. You 
have taken a weight of anxiety off 
my mind. You and your happiness 
are the most precious things in the 
world to me. And now, my dear, 
perhaps you have not yet discovered 
my reason for showing you those pic- 
tures in the fire, so I’ll tell you. I 
have never spoken to you of my early 
life, because I put it all behind me the 
day I met you, all the pain, the mis- 
understanding, the loneliness. Your 
little hand opened for me the door 
into a new life which has grown more 
beautiful each moment I have lived 
since then. I want you to know this 
and to remember it always. You are 
still quite young, dear child, and I am 


PICTURES IN THE FIRE. 


87 


old, and in the nature of things you 
will have many, many years to enjoy 
life after I shall have been laid to rest 
with my fathers.” 

“ Don’t, John, don’t talk like that. 
You must never leave me, never, 
never ! ” 

I must say it just this once, dear, 
and I’ll never refer to the subject 
again. When I am gone, if any other 
man comes along, any younger man, 
one whom you knew in the old days 
perhaps, you must not let any thought 
of me stand between you and happi- 
ness. Living or dead, my one wish is 
that you shall be happy.” 

‘‘John Alford,” and Jane’s voice 
shook though she tried to speak 
laughingly, “ If you don’t stop talking 
like that you’ll have a regular Niobe 
weeping on your neck in just about a 
minute and a whole torrent of salt 
tears will be streaming over that very 


88 “ deer jane.” 

becoming new tie of yours. You have 
years and years to live yet. You may 
be sixty-nine your next birthday but 
you don’t look fifty and at heart you 
are just as much of a boy as Richard 

is. We have five perfectly happy 
years to look back to and we’ll have 
five times five, just as happy, before 
we need even think of separation.” 

“ God grant it, my wife, God grant 

it. ” 

“ Amen ! ” responded Jane fervently. 


CHAPTER V. 


jane’s CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 

Oh ! Nunkey dear, I’ve had such a 
perfectly heavenly time this afternoon. 
You’d never believe all the dreadful 
places we’ve been to and all the 
dreadful people we’ve seen. I could 
just sit down and cry my head off 
when I think of some of them.” 

Dear me, child, is that your idea 
of a perfectly heavenly time ? Dread- 
ful places, dreadful people and then 
crying your head off afterwards,” and 
John Alford reached up and playfully 
pinched the girl’s cheek as she sat on 
the arm of his chair. 

Now, Nunkey, just quit your teas- 
ing. You know right well what I 

mean. Some of it was dreadful, per- 
89 


90 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


fectly dreadful, but it was all lovely 
too.” 

How a thing can be perfectly dread- 
ful and lovely at the same time is be- 
yond the power of my limited mascu- 
line mind to conceive. Proceed to en- 
lighten me by telling me just where you 
went and whom you saw. I see I’m 
in for an awful dose of chatter,” and 
the man settled back in his chair with 
a rueful face, a resigned sigh and a 
wicked twinkle in the corner of his 
eye. 

Jane, entering at the moment, smi- 
led at the two in the armchair and 
crossing to her work-table by the win- 
dow, seated herself in her rocker and 
took up her knitting. 

“What are you two quarreling over, 
now ? ” she demanded. 

“ We’re not quarreling, Janey dear, 
but Nunkey is in one of his very worst 
old tantrums, tells me I don’t know 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 91 

what I’m talking about and won’t listen 
to me when I try to explain. You 
know perfectly well that when he 
makes up his mind to take the floor, 
no one gets even the ghost of a chance 
to say so much as yea or nay. So now, 
Nunkey, if you can possibly keep quiet 
long enough. I’ll tell you what Jane 
and I were doing all this afternoon. 

“ So Jane was with you, was she ? 
Well then, since this is Christmas Eve, 
I can tell you at once without cutting 
the cards or reading your palm, that 
you have spent the afternoon with 
Jane’s friends in the tenements and 
hovels in the town below. And I un- 
derstand now your use of the two adjec- 
tives, dreadful and lovely. Tell me 
about it, will you, Baby ? ” 

Well, the first of it was funny, aw- 
fully funny. It was a perfect shame 
that you were taking your nap and 
could not see us drive off on the seat of 


92 


DEER JANE.’ 


that queer-looking team Jane hired. 
Imagine Jackson and Jane and me all 
squeezed into the seat of an open 
wagon that was a cross between an 
express wagon and a butcher’s cart.” 

But why choose a strange mode of 
conveyance ? Why did you not take 
the carriage ? ” John inquired of his 
wife. 

“You see, John,” she answered: 
“ I want all my friends in the tene- 
ments to feel that I am really their 
friend, really one of them. The truly 
deserving poor are sometimes very 
proud and sensitive so I always go to 
them on foot or” smiling at the recol- 
lection “ on the seat of a delivery 
wagon. If I went in a carriage they 
might think I had come merely to pry 
and patronize.” 

“Just like you, Jane, just like you. 
But what does Jackson think of it all? 
How does his dignity stand the shock 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 


93 


of descending from his perch on the 
carriage and his mettled steeds, to 
the seat of an express team and one 
broken-down old cob ? ” 

That was part of the fun, Nunkey, 
to see Jackson try to square his shoul- 
ders and look dignified when every few 
moments that old horse would stumble 
and nearly yank Jackson, reins and 
whip and all over the footboard onto 
his back.” 

‘^Jackson was one funny item in 
the afternoon’s program, but the very 
funniest of all was something that 
happened just as we crossed the 
bridge and turned into Main Street. 
Oh! Nunkey, I nearly die when I 
think of it. You know Mrs. Clarence 
Jones-Browne, of course, the Mrs. 
Jones-Browne,” and Elaine mimicked 
that worthy lady’s pompous tones so 
perfectly, looking at them the while 
through an imaginary lorgnette, that 


94 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


both her listeners burst into irrepress- 
ible laughter. “ Well, my dear, there 
was Jonesie just sailing down the 
steps of her highly aristocratic man- 
sion, with her aristocratic nose in the 
air and her latest importation from 
Lunnon standing at attention with 
his hand on the carriage door holding 
it open for her queenship to enter and 
make a round of afternoon calls upon 
her select circle of acquaintances. 
Jonesie’s aristocratic foot had just 
been lifted preparatory to finding a 
resting place upon the steps of her 
carriage, when her haughtily indif- 
ferent glance happened to rest upon 
us and our equipage. I’d give my 
next quarter’s allowance and go with- 
out candy for a year if I could have 
had a picture of her at that moment. 
Her foot remained suspended in mid- 
air, her mouth and eyes opened wider 
and wider. The expression on her 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 95 

face was a study as she looked first at 
Jane, then at me, then at the baskets 
in the team behind us, from which any 
number of chicken legs were sticking 
out promiscuous like, bunches of celery 
stood up and nodded their heads at 
her and bundles of all sorts and 
shapes and sizes were piled up in 
delightful confusion. I just laughed 
out loud, I couldn’t help it, Jane, 
honest I couldn’t, but Jane only 
smiled that placid smile of hers and 
called out sweetly : 

‘How do you do, Mrs. Jones- 
Browne? If it be not a little prema- 
ture, may I wish you a very happy 
Christmas ? ’ 

“At that, Jones-Browne gave a 
snort, tried to find the step with her 
foot, missed it and tumbled headlong 
into the carriage. The last I saw of 
her were her feet waving frantically 
as the footman tried to fish her out 


96 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


and get her into an upright position 
again. 

“ Well, we kept on our way, not a 
whit annoyed at the Mrs. Browne’s 
disapproval, and I wish you could 
have seen all the places we went to. 
I can’t remember half of them. We 
went down into cellars, up into attics, 
and one visit was to a loft over a 
deserted stable. Think of it, Nunkey, 
think of it ! To have no place to live 
except one room in the attic of a 
barn. A woman and her daughter 
live there and the girl is a hopeless 
invalid. I must say the room is tidy 
and comfortable and warm, and the 
woman says she has plenty of work 
now, thanks to our Jane, and they 
never want for food or fire. It must 
have been awful, Jane, when you 
found her. She told me all about it 
when you were hobnobbing over in 
the corner with the sick girl. She 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 9^ 

said they’d no fire and nothing to eat 
for nearly two days, the windows 
were all broken and stuffed with rags 
and the daughter was just crying 
with pain and cold and hunger. But 
Jane found them and took care of 
them ever since.” 

“ But why leave them in the stable, 
Jane; could you not have found a 
little tenement for them ? ” asked 
John. 

“ They are an excellent example of 
what I meant when I spoke just now 
of the pride of some of our most deserv- 
ing poor. Those two women would 
not accept charity. They let me send 
them a little food and coal at first, 
but all they would take beyond that 
was work for the mother whereby 
she could support them both.” 

“Well, anyway, Nunkey, they are 
getting on all right now and when I 
said to the sick girl that I thought it 


98 


DEER JANE/ 


must be awful to live in a stable, she 
smiled so prettily and said : 

‘ The One Who holds the world in 
the hollow of His Hand chose to make 
His home in a stable. What was 
good enough for Him is surely good 
enough for me.’ 

‘‘ Then we went on to ever so many 
more places, but there’s only one more 
I think will interest you. It was a 
horrid, dirty, dark old tenement and 
we had to climb a dozen flights of 
stairs, more or less, to reach the people 
we came to see. Just at the top of 
the last flight, Jane, who was in ad- 
vance, nearly stumbled over some- 
thing lying curled up in a heap on 
the step. It was dark, I could not see 
what it was, but Jane stooped down 
and then gave a funny little cry as 
she picked it up in her arms and 
fairly banged open a door at the right. 
Say, Nunkey, did you ever see Jane 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 99 

mad, just mad through and through ? ” 

“ I think I did, the very first time 
I saw her, but never since then,” and 
John Alford smiled at the remem- 
brance. 

“ But not mad like she was to-day. 
Gee ! Nunkey, I was scared blue and 
expected nothing short of three mur- 
ders in the first act. She stalked over 
to a chair and sat down and then I 
saw what she had picked up on the 
stairs : a little bit of a girl, a pretty, 
sweet little thing too, in spite of rags 
and dirt. She had such sad, sad, 
terribly sad blue eyes and gave one 
frightened look around, then hid her 
face in Jane’s neck and clung to her 
for dear life. And then Jane lit into 
those people for fair. Honest, I’d 
never have believed she could do it 
and her eyes just blazed at them, she 
was so mad. There was a woman 
there and three or four boys and they 


100 


DEER JANE.’ 


were sitting around a table eating. I 
don’t know whether you’d call it lunch 
or tea or dinner since it was about 
three in the afternoon. It seems that 
the poor little girl is deaf and dumb 
and is only a distant relative of theirs. 
Her father and mother were killed in 
an accident a few weeks ago and this 
woman had to take her for she had 
no place to go. They don’t treat her 
any too well, I should say to judge by 
what we saw to-day. There was a 
long mark across her cheek and neck 
as if the woman had struck at her 
with a strap and had then put her 
out into the freezing cold entryway 
while they ate their dinner. The 
woman said she was a ‘stubborn 
critter and always gettin’ under foot 
an’ bein’ in the way.’ Jane cuddled 
and petted the baby and laid out the 
whole bunch of ’em by turns, and we 
didn’t leave until the little girl was 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. IQl 

sound asleep and the woman scared 
half out of her senses. Jane never 
does anything by halves and when 
she gets mad, she’s just proper mad, 
so she is. Take my advice, Nunkey, 
and don’t ever rile that fearful temper 
of hers, if you know which side your 
bread’s buttered on. But hark! What 
melodious sound is that which 
cleaveth so sweetly the frosty air 
without ? ’Tis the appointed signal at 
last, at last. I come, my trusty knight, 
I come. In other words, good people, 
Richard promised to show me the 
new puppies and that whistle means 
he is nearly ready to take me to the 
stables. So long, see you all later.” 

For several moments silence reigned 
in Jane’s sitting-room, which was, by 
the way, the favorite refuge and 
general living-room, of the entire 
family. As Richard once said : 
“ Jane’s den is everybody’s home.” 


102 “DEER JANE.” 

John Alford smiled as he watched 
his wife’s preoccupied, somewhat 
anxious face. Her placid counte- 
nance so seldom showed traces of care 
or worry that he wondered what the 
trouble could be and smiled to himself 
contentedly, feeling sure that what- 
ever it was he could set it right. 

“ A penny for your thoughts, 
my dear,” he said presently. Jane 
glanced up quickly and returned his 
smile. 

“ I was just wondering what you 
were going to give me for Christmas, 
John.” 

“ That is a strange coincidence, be- 
cause I was just wondering what you 
would say when I told you what I am 
going to give you for a Christmas 
present. Is there anything very 
special that you want ?” 

“ There is something very, very 
special that I want to ask you to give 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 103 

me. It is a great favor I want you to 
grant.” 

It is granted already. What is it, 
dear ? ” 

You blessed man,” laughed Jane. 
How you do spoil me ! ” 

‘‘That is the end and aim of my 
existence, young lady, but so far I 
have not succeeded in doing it. What 
is this favor you want me to grant ? ” 
“ It is not an ordinary every-day 
favor, John, and I’m just a little bit 
afraid you won’t approve of it in the 
least. ” 

“ Janey, if you asked me to get you 
a piece of the moon, I’d immediately 
arm myself with carving knives and 
hatchets, spend a few stray pennies 
upon an aeroplane and at least make 
an attempt to reach the moon and 
bring you back a nice pie-shaped 
wedge of green cheese.” 

“ And if you should succeed, think 


104 : 


DEER JANE.” 


of the consternation and dismay you 
would cause to the world of science. 
How do you suppose the learned 
astronomers would ever account for 
the sudden change in Madame Luna’s 
appearance? But I don’t want any 
moon or any green cheese, John. I 
want to adopt little Catherine Cam- 
eron ; bring her here and keep her 
always for my very own.” 

“ And who is Catherine Cameron ? ” 
John asked quietly. 

“She is the poor little deaf and 
dumb girl Elaine told you of a short 
while ago. The child we found on 
the stairway this afternoon. She is a 
dear sweet little girl and simply de- 
voted to me. Her father and mother 
were such nice people, poor but hard- 
working, honest folks and they loved 
the child and petted and cared for her 
tenderly. That baby’s heart is just 
breaking with the awful people who 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 105 

have her now. I want to take her 
away from them and give her the 
love and kindness her sensitive little 
soul needs and longs for. Poor tot, 
I’ll never forget the way her eyes 
pleaded with me and her small hands 
clung to me. I want her dreadfully, 
J ohn, may I have her ? ” 

“ You certainly may, if it will make 
you any happier, my Jane.” 

“Really, John, really?” Jane was 
almost speechless with delight and 
wonder at his ready acquiescence. 
“May I go now, at once, and bring 
her home ? I hate to think of her as 
being even one more night in that 
dreadful place.” 

“Bring her home whenever you 
like, dear. But are you sure they 
will let you have her ? ” 

“ Let me have her ? ” scornfully. 
“That woman will go down on her 
knees and thank me for taking her. 


106 


“ DEER jane; 


She’s a hard, selfish, cruel creature 
and will think she is well rid of a 
troublesome incumbrance.” 

Then put on your wraps at once, 
little woman, and bring the child 
home with you. I know you’ll not be 
happy till you have her safely here.” 
And John smiled kindly as Jane 
simply fiew out of the room to do his 
bidding. But the smile faded as the 
door closed behind her and he leaned 
his head on his hand and sighed 
wearily. Little girl, little girl,” he 
murmured, I’d give my life to 
make you happy, and yet, and 
yet ” 

The sound of a merry laugh fioated 
up from the driveway below. John 
Alford walked to the window and 
watched the scene beneath. Jane 
had met Elaine and Richard returning 
from inspecting the new puppies. 
She was evidently explaining her 


JANE’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 107 

errand to them, for Elaine was danc- 
ing np and down and clapping her 
hands joyously. Eichard must have 
made some teasing remark just then, 
for his two sisters suddenly threw 
themselves upon him bodily, and be- 
ing taken unawares, he was soon roll- 
ing over and over in a snow-bank. 
The sisters fled, laughing, down the 
driveway and Eichard, regaining his 
feet, was after them like the wind, 
pelting them with snowballs as he 
ran. The man at the window smiled 
whimsically as he watched them. 

What children they are,” he said 
musingly. Even Jane, in spite of 
her twenty-nine years, is nothing but 
a baby in some ways ; my good little 
Jane ! It makes a chap like me feel 
horribly old, though ; horribly old.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. 

‘‘ I DO think this has been just the 
loveliest, happiest, most beautifullest 
Christmas I have ever spent. What 
do you think, Janey?” and Elaine 
sighed contentedly as she half knelt, 
half sat upon the floor beside John 
Alford’s couch. Their early supper 
over, they had gathered in the den, 
for John complained of feeling slightly 
tired and Jane suggested that he lie 
on the couch to rest a while. 

‘‘ Would you prefer to be alone and 
quiet, John, or shall we all come too, 
and spend the evening in the den as a 
change from my sitting-room?” she 
had asked. 

Don’t leave me, dear,” he answered. 

108 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. 


109 


I want you all with me to-night. I 
can lie quietly and listen to your talk 
and will enjoy it very much.” 

In answer to Elaine’s question, Jane 
looked tenderly down at the golden 
head resting upon her shoulder, then 
across to her husband and said softly : 

“ I think, Elaine, dear, this has been 
the very happiest day of my whole 
life, thanks to John’s goodness and 
generosity.” 

‘^And allow me to say,” retorted 
John, “ that the day I met you, Jane, 
was the happiest of my life up till 
then, but each day that has passed 
since has been happier than the one 
before.” 

Hear, hear,” broke in Eichard 
laughing and clapping his hands. 

Elaine gave a little scream of pre- 
tended dismay. 

“ You incorrigible pair of turtle- 
doves, stop it this minute before you 


110 “DEER JANE.” 

demoralize that blessed infant in 
Jane’s arms. Your bad example 
might be contagious and we’ll see her 
making love to Dickie next thing we 
know.” 

‘^You forget, Elaine,” this very 
gently from Richard, the poor little 
thing cannot hear a word we say.” 

Right you are, Dickie, she cannot 
hear us nor understand what we say, 
but she does understand every blessed 
thing Jane says to her. I never saw 
anything like it ; those two have a 
language all their own and they talk 
it with their eyes. Tell us how you 
manage it, Janey.” 

I don’t know, dear, we just seem 
to understand each other that’s all. I 
think she knows by intuition how 
much I love her, my poor little pet, 
and somehow love can make us under- 
stand anything. She must be very 
tired, see, she has fallen sound asleep 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. m 

while we were talking. I was just 
going to carry her off to bed, but I’ll 
wait now and let her have her nap 
right here in my arms. The darling ; 
you don’t know how grateful I am 
for the Christmas present you have 
given me, John. For all the Christ- 
mas presents, in fact, for every one of 
them was beautiful.” 

“ Yes, Nunkey, you best and nicest 
and preciousest of men, you’ve given 
us all a beautiful, beautiful day and 
we’re ever so grateful to you, aren’t 
we, Dickie ? ” 

“ My sentiments exactly,” responded 
Eichard heartily. 

“Well, baby, I am very thankful 
if it has been given me to make 
you three happy. That is all I 
have to live for, child.” There was a 
strained, weary note in the man’s 
voice and Elaine leaned over him 
anxiously. 


112 


“DEER JANE. 


‘^Anything wrong, Nunkey? You 
look dreadfully white and tired.” 

No, little goose, only a pain I’ve 
had rather frequently of late. When 
people grow old, you know, rheuma- 
tism and various other ills and aches 
are always lying in ambush and ready 
to spring on them without a moment’s 
warning. There, it is all gone now 
and I think if you will sing for me, I 
could fall asleep very easily and have 
a nice little nap. Then, when I 
awake we’ll have our usual game of 
cribbage. I bet you a box of candy 
you’ll not beat your poor old Nunkey 
to-night in the shameless way you’ve 
been doing for the past week.” 

And I bet you ten kisses I’ll beat 
you all to a frazzle, you impertinent 
Nunkey.” 

“ I’ll take you, my dear, and sup- 
pose you give me just one kiss in 
advance for I’m going to win that bet. 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. 113 

I know I will. Thank you. Now sing 
for me, Elaine, and V\\ try to sleep.” 

“ What shall I sing, dear ? ” 

“Something sweet and simple, a 
few of these old Scotch ballads that I 
love. Begin with one about ‘Jean, 
Jean, my bonnie Jean,’ ” and his eyes 
rested for a second upon his wife 
rocking to and fro, softly caressing the 
pretty golden curls of the child in her 
arms. Then they closed and taking 
the man’s hand in hers and stroking 
it in time with the music, Elaine began 
to sing, softly, sweetly, of a “ bonnie 
blue-eyed Scotch lassie, Jean.” Pres- 
ently, Jane rose quietly and left the 
room carrying little Catherine up to 
her hastily improvised nursery, a 
small room next to Jane’s own cham- 
ber, with a door between which she 
could leave open at night so as to be 
at hand if the child should need 
anything. 


114 “ deer jane.” 

Eeturning to the den some little 
time later, she paused inside the door 
and an amused smile passed across 
her face at the scene her eyes encoun- 
tered. John Alford had evidently 
been lulled to sleep by Elaine’s sing- 
ing, and she in turn had dozed off, 
sitting on the floor beside him, her 
cheek resting upon his hand, which 
she still held in hers. Jane tiptoed 
softly across the room motioning to 
Eichard to call his attention to the 
pretty picture of the white-haired 
man and the slight, childish-looking 
girl of seventeen. Eeaching the 
couch she stood looking down on 
them, the smile still upon her face. 

The next moment her startled, 
horrified cry of “ Dickie, Dickie, come 
here quick,” sent the book Eichard 
was reading flying out of his hand to 
the floor and brought him to her side 
like a flash. 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. II5 

What is it, Sis, what is it ? ” he 
exclaimed frightened by her appear- 
ance. 

Elaine woke up with a start and 
she too cried : What is it, what’s 
the matter ? ” 

One glance at John Alford and the 
question was answered. For a mo- 
ment, silence reigned, a silence of 
horrified bewilderment. Then Elaine 
flung herself upon him, holding his 
hand, smoothing his forehead, calling 
him all the pet names she could think 
of and weeping piteously. 

“ Oh ? Nunkey, Nunkey, darling, 
speak to me, speak to me! It’s just 
your own little Elaine, your baby, to 
whom you’ve never yet refused a 
single thing. Nunkey, Nunkey, you 
best and dearest and nicest of men, 
the only Daddy I ever knew, just say 
one little hit of a word to your Elaine. 
Don’t look like that, so cold and 


116 


DEER JANE.’ 


stony ; open your eyes and smile at 
me same as you always do. Oh, Rich- 
ard ! Oh, Janey ! What will we do, 
what will we do ? ” 

The girl collapsed onto the floor in 
a paroxysm of crying, but Jane stood 
silent and motionless looking down 
upon the man who had given her 
everything she possessed and whose 
every thought had been for her and 
hers. For flve years she had striven 
earnestly and loyally to be to him all 
that he desired, but in her heart she 
knew she had failed. Richard put 
his arm about her and sought to lead 
her from the room. She looked up at 
him, her face drawn and white, but 
absolutely tearless. 

“Oh! Dickie, Dickie, to go like 
this, without a word, without a sign. 
He was so good, so good. Id always 
hoped ” 

“I know, Sis; I know, dear, I’m 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. 

only a poor human creature and I 
suppose not competent to judge in 
such matters, but if ever a man de- 
served eternal happiness, that man 
was John Alford. His was the 
noblest, the grandest, the most beauti- 
ful soul I have ever known, and we 
knew each other well and loved each 
other well, dear old John.” 

Tears of which he was not ashamed, 
streamed down Richard’s cheeks as 
he continued : 

“This is not a surprise to me. Sis. 
John has been expecting just this for 
several months now. It was his 
heart. He knew about it and told me 
but did not want you to be worried. 
He told me only a few days ago that 
he had set everything in order and 
was ready for the end. He said when 
it came to give you his love and tell 
you not to grieve or worry for he 
was happy.” 


118 “ DEER JANE.” 

“ I wish I had known, I wish I had 
known,” was all Jane said as Eichard 
led her away. Hours later she sat in 
her own room, hands idly folded in 
her lap, eyes staring dazedly before 
her. So had she sat since Richard 
had brought her upstairs and left her 
in the care of the still weeping Elaine. 
The latter was standing at the head 
of the stairs watching her brother 
mount slowly and heavily. Doctors 
had come and gone after the briefest 
of examinations. 

“ It is awful, Dickie, perfectly 
awful. There she sits like a stone 
image and I can’t get her to speak to 
me or take any notice of what I say 
to her. Dickie, for goodness sake do 
something, will you.” 

“ I’ll do what I can, Elaine.” And 
together they entered Jane’s room. 

Richard laid his hand on her 
shoulder and shook her ever so gentle. 


AUF WIEDERSEHEN. 


119 


“Isay, Sis.” 

“ Yes, Dickie boy.” She answered 
mechanically but looking neither to 
right nor left, nor moving so much as 
a finger. 

Richard looked helplessly at Elaine, 
then both turned, startled by a sound 
behind them. Their faces brightened 
and the same thought fiashed through 
both minds on the instant. Help had 
come from an unexpected quarter. In 
the doorway between Jane’s room 
and the nursery little Catherine stood 
wide-eyed and frightened. She stared 
from one to another but did not ad- 
vance a step towards the silent group 
watching. Richard turned Jane’s 
chair so that her eyes would fall 
upon the trembling little figure in the 
doorway. A second later the child 
was in Jane’s arm, her baby hands 
wiping away the tears that fiowed in 
torrents, her baby face expressing a 


120 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


world of love and sympathy. Rich- 
ard and Elaine stole softly from the 
room and closed the door behind 
them. 


CHAPTER VII. 


ROGER IS COMING. 

People who knew Jane Alford best 
said she was probably the only woman 
in the world absolutely devoid of 
vanity, yet, on a certain night in 
early May, could those same people 
have looked into the white and gold 
nest that was Jane’s bedroom, they 
would have found her seated before 
her dressing-table, lights flaring 
brightly and Jane herself eagerly 
scanning the face reflected in the 
mirror. 

“Thirty-three,” she whispered to 
herself. “ Thirty-three, and some- 
times I have felt about fifty. I 
wonder if I have changed much in 
the last nine years, I wonder.” Then, 


122 


“ DEER JANE.” 


her eyes meeting the rather anxious 
ones that looked back at her from the 
mirror, she laughed right heartily 
and shook her finger at the woman in 
the looking-glass. “ You silly old 
Jane,” she cried. “ Instead of learn- 
ing sense as you grow older, you are 
becoming a perfect fool. What do 
years matter, what do looks matter, 
when the heart is young and happy, 
happy, happy. I wonder if it is wrong 
for me to be so happy. It is what 
John himself would have wished. I 
know it is; dear, good, unselfish 
John.” 

Extinguishing the lights on the 
dressing-table she crossed to the win- 
dow, threw it wide open and wrap- 
ping a soft shawl about her shoulders, 
drew up a low lounging chair and gave 
herself up to memories of the past. 

She thought of the four years that 
had come and gone since that Christ- 


ROGER IS COMING. 123 

mas night which had made her a 
widow. 

How she had missed him, the kind, 
thoughtful man who had surrounded 
her with every care, everything the 
human heart could ask for. For 
nearly three years, she and Elaine 
and little Catherine had lived abroad, 
for she could not bear the sight of the 
home which reminded her so con- 
stantly of all she had lost. Eichard, 
from his Seminary, wrote regularly 
and his letters gave her more comfort 
than anything else. They would 
probably have been abroad still had it 
not been for that sudden, serious ill- 
ness which had attacked Richard 
just one year ago. Summoned by 
cable, she had come to Richard’s bed- 
side as fast as trains and steamers 
would bring her. Never would she 
forget that journey, never, never. 
The long interminable days when she 


124 


DEER JANE.’ 


paced the deck impatiently wonder- 
ing why they were traveling with 
such exasperating slowness. The 
truth was, the captain, who had 
recently become a widower for the 
fourth time and was greatly attracted 
by his wealthy and also widowed 
passenger, was making all haste pos- 
sible and had given orders to crowd 
on all the steam it was safe to carry. 
The long, weary nights when she 
tossed in her berth thinking always 
of Richard and not daring to imagine 
what might be waiting for her at her 
journey’s end. If she lost Richard, 
then indeed would life not be worth 
the living. And for several days 
after she reached him it seemed as 
if that would be the outcome. What 
Jane suffered in those hours when 
she sat beside him trying hard to say 
“ Thy will be done,” none but she 
would ever know, and when finally 


ROGER IS COMING. 125 

the crisis was over and Dickie on the 
road to recovery, it v^as a very white- 
faced, very tired but very happy 
Jane who went out to the old home 
on the banks of the Hudson river and 
proceeded to open the house and have 
all in readiness for Richard’s arrival 
as soon as he could leave the hospital. 
It was his own wish that the days of 
convalescence be spent in the home 
John Alford had given them. 

It was then, on Just such a warm 
May day as this had been, that Roger’s 
letter had come to her. It had been 
a distinct shock to her in one way, 
because it brought home to her for 
the first time the fact that she was 
free once more. Strange as it may 
seem, in all the three years of her 
widowhood, her thoughts had all been 
with the man who was gone. She 
had considered herself as belonging 
absolutely to him and the idea of a 


126 “ deer jane.” 

possible second marriage had never 
entered her mind. If she thought of 
the future at all it was simply to 
picture herself planning for Elaine 
and caring for her and little Cath- 
erine. She would devote herself to 
them and to her friends in the tene- 
ments as soon as she could make up 
her mind to go home and settle down 
into a quiet routine of duty and 
charity. Such had been the life she 
had mapped out for herself. Then 
came Roger’s letter ; short, simple 
and so thoroughly characteristic. 

“ Dear Jane — 

“ I have waited long and 
waited patiently. When may I come 
to you? 

“ Roger.” 

For two days, Jane had pondered 
deeply in genuine distress and doubt. 
Then she wrote : 


ROGER IS COMING. 127 

“Not yet, Eoger, not yet. Some 
day perhaps. Possibly never. 

“ Jane.” 

That had been a year ago and since 
then she had heard of him only 
through Elaine, who had spent most 
of her time in New York on pro- 
longed visits to her friends, the 
Fosters. Nearly every letter con- 
tained some allusion to Roger, who 
had evidently been very attentive to 
the girl during the season just over. 
Jane laughed softly to herself as she 
thought of some of those letters. In 
one received quite recently, Elaine 
had written : 

“I wish you were here, Janey, to 
see what fun I’m having. All the 
girls and the managing Mammas just 
hate me, though they smile and kiss 
me and call me a sweet child. They 
look as if they’d like to bite me and it 


128 “ deer jane.” 

takes all the courage I possess to keep 
from dodging when I see one of them 
make ready to peck at me with lips 
that I know will be saying all sorts of 
dreadful things about me just as soon 
as they are out of my sight. And 
why, you may ask, this hatred of a 
perfectly harmless and really inter- 
esting and attractive young lady ? 
Thank you for the compliment, I 
quite agree with you for once in my 
life. The trouble is, my dear, the 
most lionized, most popular, most 
eligible, young man in ‘ our set ’ (I 
quote Mrs. Jones-Browne) will waltz 
with me as I let him and never with 
other girls unless he is obliged to. 
That same popular individual sends 
me candy and flowers galore and 
actually seems to enjoy talking to me 
when he is only just polite and civil 
to other women, except the very old 
ones. He is a perfect dear to all old 


ROGER IS COMING. 


129 


ladies. They worship him and knit 
him ties and socks and slippers of all 
shapes and sizes and such variegated 
colors that Joseph’s coat they tell us 
of in the Bible would grow pale with 
chagrin and fade away into nothing- 
ness should it happen to pay a visit to 
Roger’s room about Christmas time. 
You’d never guess the idea these good 
people have in their stupid old heads. 
They think Roger is in love with me, 
and just to plague them I help along 
the delusion all I can, smile mysteri- 
ously at the hints they throw out, and 
all the time I’m having a good laugh 
at them behind their backs. Isn’t it 
funny, Roger in love with me ? Tee, 
hee, and ha, ha, and ho, ho, says you, 
for we know, you and I, where 
Roger’s heart really is, don’t we, 
Janey ? And oh ! Janey dear, please 
make up your mind to be good to 
him and see him soon. He's such a 


130 “ deer jane.” 

dear and so awfully good. You’d 
never believe all the splendid things 
he does and never lets on to anyone. 
Even I wouldn’t know anything about 
it if it weren’t for the doctor. By the 
way, I’ve never told you about him, 
have I ? He’s heaps of fun and 
Eoger’s best friend. The first time 
I saw him I nearly died trying to 
keep from laughing right in his face. 
Gee, I never suffered so in all my life. 
In the first place, he’s really quite old, 
must be nearly thirty-six I should say, 
and what little hair he has is a bril- 
liant, vivid red. He has round blue 
eyes that look like a good-natured 
baby’s, a round rosy face and is very 
short and very stout. Eoger is simply 
wild about him, says he’s the cleverest 
doctor and goodest man he’s ever met. 

“ Eoger introduced him to me, and, 
honest, you’d think the funny little 
doctor was a king if you could see the 


liOGER IS COMING. 131 

way Roger spoke his name to me. I 
really felt as if I should salaam to the 
ground before his royal highness in- 
stead of merely murmuring that I 
was so pleased to meet him. By the 
way, dear, this wonderful individual 
rejoices in the poetic front name of 
Samuel. I’ve seen him quite often 
this winter, for Roger brings him 
along nearly every time he calls on us, 
and lately Samuel has been dropping 
in all by his lonesome whenever he 
gets a few moments to breathe. He’s 
an awfully busy man, too, and I tell 
Adelaide she ought to pat herself on 
the back to think of such a famous 
man wasting so much of his valuable 
time upon her. He is wasting his 
time, too, I’m afraid, for she simply 
can’t abide him. Little fool, she don’t 
know when she’s lucky. Poor little 
Sammy may not be very handsome 
but he’s a man, every inch of him, 


132 


“ DEER JANE.” 


and the most perfect gentleman IVe 
ever met. And oh, Janey, what do 
you suppose he’s been and gone and 
done? Be sure and have smelling 
salts handy, for, though I know you’ve 
never fainted in your life, you surely 
will when you read this. He’s act- 
ually succeeded in getting your silly, 
rattle-brained little sister, interested 
in the work he is doing for the poor 
little children and sick people in the 
slums of New York. He does a heap 
of charity work and sometimes gets 
me to go and visit some of his 
patients and sit and read to them by 
the hour. I like it, too, for its always 
such nice, kind people that he sends 
me to. 

‘‘And you’ll never guess who has 
been, as he says, ‘ his right bower ’ 
for the last five or six years. None 
other than our Roger. I saw him once 
steal away from a terribly swell social 


ROGER IS COMING. 


133 


function where everyone was ready 
to kow-tow to him and thought he 
was going home or off to have a good 
time at his club. Then, the next day, 
the doctor told me how Eoger had sat 
the whole night beside a young boy 
in whom he is interested and who is 
very sick and very poor. Another 
time there was a laborer terribly hurt 
and taken to the hospital. He’d lost 
so much blood they didn’t think he 
could possibly pull through, but would 
die of sheer weakness. His family 
was one of those on the doctor’s list, 
so Samuel went to the hospital to see 
him. The medicos held a very serious 
pow-wow among themselves and 
decided to try infusion of blood if 
they could find anyone who would 
give it to them. Sammy offered his, 
but Roger heard what they were 
going to do and said it wasn’t right 
for Sammy to do such a thing because 


134 


DEER JANE." 


SO many people would suffer if any- 
thing happened to him. Koger gave 
his blood to the poor laborer and the 
man is alive and well to-day and 
working hard to support his family. 

“ I tried to speak to Eoger about his 
goodness and charity once, but he just 
calmly and coolly brushed the matter 
aside and began talking about the 
latest light opera. He hates to have 
people know what he does for the 
poor. But one day, not long ago, I 
caught him red-handed, and oh! it 
was too funny for anything. I must 
tell you about it, though goodness 
knows this letter is quite long enough 
as it is. 

“You see, dear, it was like this. 
Doctor had asked me to go and see a 
young girl in one of his tenements 
who was quite sick and very blue and 
despondent. He thought I might 
cheer her up and make her feel better. 


ROGER IS COMING. 135 

Well, I knew the street because I^d 
been there before, but somehow I for- 
got the number of the house. I went 
into the first house I came to, and, as 
the tenement on the lower fioor was 
vacant, climbed the rickety stairs and 
knocked on a door at the top. No one 
answered but I could hear some chil- 
dren making a dreadful racket inside, 
so I opened the door and walked in. I 
laugh now till I cry, when I think of 
what I saw. In the middle of the 
fioor, on his hands and knees, was 
Roger, with a very dirty little boy as- 
tride his back and two more boys 
leading him along by a string they 
had twisted around his head and 
through his mouth to imitate a horse’s 
bridle. All I could do was to stare at 
them, and I know my mouth must 
have been wide open and my eyes 
nearly popping out of my head. 

Roger looked calmly up at me 


136 


“ DEER JANEJ 


from the floor and actually grinned at 
my amazement. 

“ ‘ A miracle, a miracle” he drawled 
in the most aggravating fashion. 

' Our chattering magpie is speechless 
for the first time in her life.' 

‘^Even then all I could do was to 
stammer feebly, ‘Koger, for heaven’s 
sake, can that be you ?’ 

‘‘ ‘ Surest thing you know says he, 
quite gaily. 

“ ^ Then,’ says I, getting my wits 
back from wherever they’d flown to, 

‘ Get up oft your knees and stop mak- 
ing a donkey of yourself.’ 

^ Donkey,’ says he, highly indig- 
nant. ‘ Donkey indeed ! I’d have you 
understand, young lady, I’m a mettle- 
some steed from the deserts of Arabia 
and these, my masters, are scions of 
nomadic kings.’ 

‘‘ ‘ Nomadic fiddlesticks,’ says I. 
‘Think how your clothes will look 


ROGER IS COMING. 


137 


when you get through, and for good- 
ness ’ sake think how perfectly ridic- 
ulous you are in that most undignified 
position. Oh ! Roger, what wouldn’t 
I give to have Mrs. Jones-Browne see 
you this blessed minute. Imagine her 
face if she could look in here now.’ 

“ ^ I couldn’t,’ says Roger, laughing, 
‘ And I’ve a pretty vivid imagination 
too.’ 

“ Then he got the youngster off his 
back, stood up and was just taking the 
bridle off when the children’s mother 
came in. Roger introduced me to her 
and then hurried me away with him 
so as to escape her thanks and praises, 
but I went back a few days later and 
found out all about it. Her husband 
was sick and in the hospital, and it 
was very hard for her to go and see 
him on account of the three little boys, 
the oldest being only six. She was a 
stranger in the place and didn’t like to 


“ I^EER jane.” 

bother the neighbors, so Roger used to 
go nearly every day and take care of 
the children for her so she could 
spend an hour with her sick husband. 
Now, what do you think of Roger, 
Jane 1 And how soon are j’^ou going 
to let him see you? He has never 
spoken of you even once, but I guess 
I know what he’s thinking about 
pretty often and I read your letters to 
him and sort of keep him posted in an 
easy off-hand manner. For goodness’ 
sake make up your mind soon or I’ll 
keep that old threat of mine and 
marry him myself. Next to you, I 
know he thinks I’m the very nicest 
girl in all the world. Guess he’s 
pretty near right, too, what do you 
think, Janey dear?” 

Jane could think of only one thing 
that May night, as she watched the 
stars from her open window. That 
was that she was happy, happy, 


ROGER IS COMING. 139 

happy, and that Eoger was coming 
to-morrow. 

A telegram had reached her early 
that morning. It was as follows : 

“ Business takes me to your neigh- 
borhood to-morrow. May I call ? 

“ Roger.” 

Jane’s answer had been but one 
word: “Yes.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


DEER JANE.” 

Mechanically, Jane folded the 
letter she had just read through for 
the second time and slipped it into its 
envelope ; the letter which had come 
as a bolt from the blue. Was it pos- 
sible that only a short half hour ago 
she had said to herself she was the 
very happiest woman in all the world 
and had thanked God for sending her 
such happiness? She and Catherine 
had romped like foolish children over 
the lawn and through the shrubbery, 
dear little Catherine, who was now 
gathering a bunch of early violets to 
place upon the table in honor of 
Roger’s coming. How bright had 

seemed the sunshine; how beautiful 
140 


DEER JANE.’ 


141 


the world and then had come the 
morning mail bringing this letter 
from Elaine. 

Dearest Janey : ' 

“You’ll receive this in the first mail 
to-morrow and in about an hour 
afterwards you’ll see the writer of it 
and, Janey, I’m so happy, so very 
happy, and I’ve just the wonderfullest 
piece of news to tell you. I didn’t 
intend going down to see you person- 
ally. I was just goipg to write about 
it, but when Roger told me this after- 
noon that he was going to run down 
to see you in the morning, says I to 
myself, says I, I’ll just drop a clean 
pocket handkerchief and a toothbrush 
into a handbag and take the same 
train Roger does ! Then, too, I was 
awfully afraid you might cut up rough 
when you hear what I’m going to tell 
you. I thought you mightn’t be quite 


142 “ deer jane.” 

pleased and I’ll feel better if Roger is 
along too to back me up. He thinks 
you’ll be delighted and says if you 
raise any objections he’ll squelch ’ em 
all. Those aren’t his exact words but 
that’s the idea. In fact, he offered to 
break the news to you himself and 
then let me come on later ; but I guess 
it’s better to face the music at once, 
so we’ll be down on the first train in 
the morning to beg your blessing and 
consent. Have you guessed my news, 
you blessed old dear ? Right you are, 
the very first time. I’m engaged to 
be married and oh ! Janey, he says he 
only discovered the fact a few days 
ago, but he knows he’s loved me ever 
since the first day he saw me. And I 
never guessed it and certainly never 
thought I could fall in love with him 
though I’ve been dreadfully fond of 
him always, always. So now. Sister 
mine, be prepared to receive me nicely 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


143 


to-morrow and make me the happiest 
girl in the wide, wide world by giving 
us your blessing.” 

Elaine engaged to be married and 
to Roger ! Jane’s mind could scarcely 
grasp the fact. So that was why 
Roger had wished to see her, that 
was the reason for his telegram. 
And all the time she had imagined — 
What a fool she had been, what a 
fool. Well, she had only herself to 
blame. If, one year ago, she had 
only sent a different answer to his 
letter! She could easily see how, 
hurt and wounded by that indifferent 
^‘some day perhaps; possibly never,” 
the man had turned for comfort to 
the girl who had been as a dear little 
comrade and sister to him all her life. 
He had found consolation and now 
they were both coming to her with 
their great happiness to receive her 


144: 


“ DEER JANE.” 


blessing and approval. Well, they 
would never know what a blow the 
news had been to her. She would 
hide her pain and rejoice with them 
in their happiness. As for herself 
and her future, she would find some- 
thing to do, something to fill her days 
and make her forget. 

A tug at her sleeve broke in upon 
her reverie and she looked up with a 
start. Little Catherine was standing 
beside her, eyeing her with evident 
concern and holding up for her in- 
spection the violets she had gathered. 
On more than one occasion Jane had 
noticed that the poor little girl who 
could neither speak, nor hear, pos- 
sessed a strange power of divining in- 
stantly pain or worry in the minds of 
those she loved, a power to almost read 
into their very souls. Jane placed her 
arm around the child, and smoothed 
back the golden curls. 


“DEER JANE.’ 


145 


“Thank God, I have you, my 
chiefest comfort, my little Christmas 
present. I have you to live for any- 
way. We might go away again, just 
you and I, and travel in strange lands 
and meet strange people and find 
healing and forgetfulness. I should 
like that, I think, but that would 
mean to play the coward for the 
second time. We’ll not he a coward 
now, little Catherine, will we? We’ll 
stay right here and face it all. I’ll 
take care of you and have someone 
who has been specially fitted for the 
task come here and live with us and 
teach you everything you ought to 
know. 

“ Then there are those poor factory 
and mill people over there in the town. 
I can do much for them, very much. 
In making other people happy, we 
shall be happy also. And we must 
begin right now, baby mine, for 


146 “ DEER JANE.” 

they’ll be here soon and they must 
never know, they must never know.” 

An hour later, from the nursery 
window, Jane saw them coming up 
the drive. Leaving little Catherine 
to pore over some new picture books 
she descended the stairs, opened the 
door and stepped out upon the ve- 
randa to meet them. Seeing her, 
Elaine flew up the steps and nearly 
smothered her in a boisterous em- 
brace. 

“ You dear, precious, old sister, how 
sweet you look, and not a day older 
than I do. I wish you’d tell me how 
you manage. Is it that perfectly 
lovely white frock you are wearing or 
the violets, or what ? You’re kind of 
pale, though, lovey. Aren’t you feel- 
ing well ? ” 

Jane blushed guiltily when she 
remembered why she had donned the 
frock Elaine admired, and taken such 


“DEER JANE.’ 


147 


pains arranging her hair and the 
violets in the lace at her neck. It had 
been before she received that letter. 
Roger found no words to respond to 
her greeting, but took her outstretched 
hand in silence and looked eagerly 
into the face he had not seen in nine 
long years. Jane’s eyes fell before 
his and turning quickly she led the 
way indoors. 

Elaine allowed no time for greet- 
ings or inquiries. Without waiting 
to remove hat or gloves, she fairly 
shoved Jane into a rocking-chair and, 
dropping to her knees and flinging 
her arms around Jane’s waist ex- 
claimed anxiously : 

“ Well, Janey, how did you like my 
news? Were you glad or sorry and 
are you going to be good or cut up 
rough about it ? ” 

“ I was glad, dear ; very, very glad 
to think my little sister was going to 


148 


“ DEEK JANE.’ 


be happy with one of the best of 
men,” and Jane patted her sister’s 
cheek and smiled at Roger standing 
with his elbow on the mantel and 
looking down upon them delightedly. 

“ Oh ! I’m so glad, Janey, so glad,” 
with a rapturous hug that made poor 
Jane gasp for breath. “ He isn’t one 
of the best men ; he’s the very best, 
isn’t he, Roger ? ” Elaine smiled archly 
up at Roger who answered readily : 

“ Yes, little girl, the very best.” 

Jane frowned ever so slightly. The 
old Roger, the Roger whom she had 
known and admired so greatly, would 
not have stood like that and pro- 
claimed himself the very best of men. 
“ Success must have turned his head,” 
she thought. “ What a pity ! ” 

“ And Janey dear, when I think of 
all he has done and how grand and 
good and noble he is, it makes me feel 
like an insignificant little goose. But 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


149 


I’m going to try awfully, awfully hard 
to grow better and better every day 
and perhaps in time, I may be good 
enough even for him. How long do 
you think it will take me, Eoger?” 

“Well, if you try hard enough you 
may succeed in a dozen years or so,” 
remarked Roger gravely. 

Jane looked at him quickly, indig- 
nantly. “ What insufferable conceit,” 
she thought. “ My precious little 
sister is too good even now for any 
man living, no matter how wonderful 
he may be.” 

Then she caught Roger’s eye and 
the twinkle in it showed he was only 
teasing. Still his manner did not 
please her and she felt distinctly dis- 
appointed in the man. 

“I always knew he was awfully 
good and kind, but I never knew until 
a few weeks ago just how splendid 
he really is,” went on Elaine mus- 


150 “DEER JANE.” 

ingly. “ I don’t believe I’d have ever 
known if it hadn’t been for Mrs. Mul- 
ligan’s little girl, and he says it was 
because of her that he found out how 
much he cared for me. You see, 
Janey, Mrs. Mulligan, with her very 
large family of boys, is one of our pet 
proteges. She’s just the dearest, 
jolliest, funniest woman you ever 
saw. She’s a widow with six sons 
that range along like little steps of 
stairs from baby Jack, who is two, 
to Jimmie, aged ten. She’s a scrub 
woman in one of the big office build- 
ings down town. Eoger got her the 
job when Mr. Mulligan died and she 
had to go to work to support the kids 
(I mean children, Jane. I’m never 
going to talk slang any more, but try 
to be nice and ladylike and good like 
you). Besides the boys there is one 
girl, the oldest of all, such a dear 
motherly old-fashioned little thing. 


“DEER JANE.’ 


151 


She helps her mother all she can 
when not at school, but is very delicate 
and sick quite often. About a month 
ago little Annie was taken very ill 
suddenly and her mother sent one 
of the boys over to tell me and to say 
that Annie kept calling for me to 
come to her. I love her dearly, Jane, 
and she is very fond of me. I dressed 
and went over there as fast as I could, 
but he had reached her before I did 
and wouldn’t let me into her room. I 
never saw him excited or nervous 
before, but he got almost mad when I 
said I would go in and neither he nor 
anyone else could keep me out. 

“ ‘ But you don’t understand,’ he 
said then. ^ It’s diphtheria, the most 
malignant form. You really must 
not take the risk.’ 

“ ^ And how about you,’ — says I. 
‘ Isn’t the risk as great for you ? ’ 

Oh ! that’s different,’ says he, ‘ I 


152 


DEER JANE.” 


know how to take precautions and 
besides I meet this sort of thing every 
day. It’s business, you know.’ 

“ ‘ Well then,’ says I, ‘ give me the 
same precautions you take, because if 
Annie is sick and wants me. I’ll go to 
her if it’s smallpox she has.’ 

“ ‘ No you won’t,’ says he, ‘ for I’ll 
not permit it ! ’ 

“ ‘ I will,’ says I. 

“ ‘ You won’t,’ says he, obstinate as 
a mule. 

“Then I began to cry and that 
settled it. 

“ You’d never believe it of your 
frivolous little sister, would you, Jane, 
but I stayed right there and regularly 
nursed little Annie. Sammy said 
afterwards he didn’t think he could 
have pulled her through if it hadn’t 
been for me. He says I’m missing 
my vocation and really ought to be a 
nurse. 


DEEE JANE.’ 


153 


“ I don’t agree with him, about sav- 
ing Annie, I mean. It was he did it, 
he never left her until the crisis had 
passed but just fought for her life 
with might and main. I’ll never for- 
get that night we spent at her 
bedside. Twice I thought she’d go 
in spite of all our efforts, but his kind 
blue eyes would look up to me and 
smile through his spectacles and give 
me courage to hold on a while longer. 
It was that night I discovered how 
great he was, how strong, how 
dependable. I almost cried when I 
thought of all the times I had made 
fun of him because he had queer blue 
eyes and red hair, and was short and 
fat. I tell you what, Janey, looks 
don’t cut any ice with me now. 
They don’t amount to shucks when 
the man inside is as splendid and 
dear as my Sammy.” 

Jane gave a gasp and stared in 


154 


“ DEER JANE.' 


bewildered amazement. Sammy!” 
she exclaimed helplessly. 

Sammy, of course,” replied Elaine 
indignantly. You don’t suppose 
there’s another man in the world 
that I’d waste so much breath on 
except my Sammy, do you ? Samuel 
Saxon, M. D., and two or three other 
alphabets all strung out in a row 
to denote different degrees bestowed 
upon him by grateful universities, 
and who has asked yours truly to 
be Mrs. M. D. For heaven’s sake, 
Jane, why do you look at me like 
that? Who on earth do you sup- 
pose I was engaged to, if not Sam- 
my?” 

“ Well, Elaine, your letter — you 

never mentioned — I — I thought ” 

“Good gracious, do you mean to 
say I didn’t mention Sammy in the 
letter I wrote you yesterday ? ” 

“You didn’t mention anyone but 


DEER JANE.’ 


156 


Roger,” said Jane desperately. “ And 
so I thought ” 

‘‘Glory be, Janey,” and Elaine sat 
back upon her heels and stared at her 
sister. “ You don’t mean to say you 
thought it was Roger?” Jane nod- 
ded. Elaine rocked herself back and 
forth and peal after peal of laughter 
rang through the room. 

“So that explains it,” she cried, 
fairly gasping for breath. 

“Explains what?” asked Jane, 
weakly. 

“Why that patient, resigned, will- 
be-a-martyr-if-I-die-for-it look which 
your face has worn ever since we 
landed here this morning. Think of 
it, Roger, you and me, isn’t it just too 
funny for anything ! ” 

“But your letter, Elaine. 1 don’t 
remember the exact words, but the 
impression it gave me was that you 
were engaged and were afraid I 


156 


“ DEER JANE.’ 


wouldn’t like it, and so you and Roger 
together were coming to secure my 
consent and blessing.” 

That s the idea I wanted to con- 
vey, Janey. Only, I meant I was 
engaged to Sammy and as you’d 
never seen him I was afraid you 
mightn’t like it. Roger is Sammy’s 
best friend and so could tell you how 
splendid he is and what a lucky girl 
I am in case you did object. As 
Roger was coming to see you anyway, 
I made up my mind to come too and 
have him help me out. See ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, dear, I see now.” 

“I’m awfully sorry, Jane, if my 
letter misled you and gave you a 
bad hour or two this morning,” went 
on Elaine contritely. “You know 
the dear nuns never could (and they 
tried hard enough goodness knows) 
teach me to write a decently coherent 
letter. They always said you knew 


DEER JANE.’ 


157 

less about what I was talking of at 
the end of the letter than at the begin- 
ning. But tell me, Janey, now you 
know it is Sammy, not Eoger, what 
are you going to say to me ? ’’ 

Well, dear, after listening to you 
for this half hour past and since 
Eoger is willing to vouch for him, I 
can only say I hope you will both be 
very happy and the sooner you bring 
him down for my inspection the better 
I shall like it.” 

Oh ! you dear, you dear,” with 
another hug. I’ll go and write him 
this very minute. And I say, Janey, 
Eoger here wants to tell you some- 
thing and is almost afraid to do it. 
I’ve told him to go right ahead and if 
you don’t behave yourself and treat 
him nicely, I’ll — well, I don’t know 
what I’ll do to you. I’ll have to think 
it over and consult with Sammy be- 
fore I can find any punishment bad 


158 


“ DEER JANE.' 


enough for you. And now I’m off to 
tell Sammy all about it and ask him 
how he’d like to see me handed over 
to Roger in the very unceremonious 
manner in which my big sister was 
performing the operation. Roger, in- 
deed ! Roger isn’t in it with my 
Sammy, not for a single minute. 
Well, bless you, my children, bless 
you. Don’t forget the luncheon bell 
will ring in just an hour and a half, 
Janey. Try to have your mind made 
up by that time. Pretty short notice, 
I know, seeing you’ve had only a 
year to think the matter over. Me 
and Roger! Oh! Sammy, Sammy, 
what will you say to that.” And 
Elaine danced lightly from the room. 

Even when she knew Roger had 
been standing beside her for a full 
minute, Jane did not raise her head. 
Roger looked down upon the soft 
brown waves and smoothly braided 


“ DEER JANE/’ 


159 


coronet, as, with elbow on the arm of 
her chair and chin resting on her 
hand, she carefully studied the pat- 
tern in the carpet. 

“So you thought I was going to 
marry Elaine, did you, Jane?” his 
deep voice asked, slowly. 

Jane merely nodded. 

“I thought you knew, dear, there 
was only one woman in all the world 
for me. There never has been any 
other, there never can be.” No ans- 
wer at all this time. Then very 
gently : 

“ May I tell you her name, Jane?” 

Another nod of the bowed head. 

Eoger’s strong hand placed some- 
thing on her knee. The eyes that 
had been studying the carpet, moved 
until they rested upon the object lying 
on her lap. It was a jagged bit of 
slate with a stub of a pencil and a 
very much soiled bit of string. 


160 “DEER JANE.” 

Looking up at her from the slate 
were the two words, “ deer Jane.” 

Her fingers closed quickly around 
the scrap of pencil, and beneath “ deer 
Jane,” she traced one little word of 
three letters. 

Then, raising her face, she looked 
into Roger’s eyes, and though no word 
was spoken, Roger was satisfied. 



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